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Solstice Darkness Brings Winter BluesTips on coping with seasonal affective disorderThe winter solstice arrived, and for some people it’s not easy getting through the dark days. Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is a common diagnosis among northern populations. As of Thursday, we are slowly gaining light, but not enough yet to help people suffering from seasonal affective disorder. Doctors say feeling a little depressed during the winter months is not uncommon, but there are things you can do to pick yourself up. Doctors advise people living at higher latitudes to watch out for symptoms like unusual fatigue during the day and change in appetite. Lots of people find it hard to get out of bed, but it could also be a symptom of SAD. Doctors say part of the problem is a lack of the feel-good hormone seratonin that is released when our skin is exposed to sun. New research has been done on how our body’s sleep clock or circadian rhythm is out of wack at higher latitudes. The findings? For some people, the further north you live, the less sleep you get. But there are solutions. Doctors recommend some patients take higher doses of vitamin D and get outdoors as much as possible.
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Bob D. said on Thursday, Dec 22 at 4:38 PM
Been living in Alaska since 1969 and have never been afflicted with this malady.. Hard for me , personally , to understand..
78853042ilovesnow said on Thursday, Dec 22 at 8:55 PM
if you go outside IN the snow instead of shriveling AWAY FROM it... alaska, and winter itself, is what it is. crying in your soup won't change anything. each person is different, i don't like ice skating, skiing, or snowboarding, but i like walking in winter as much as summer. i don't turn into a grinch just bcoz the season/weather changes. church, work, family, friends, exercise/sports, reading, music, movies,... and all this on :0 12,000/year.
78861914cooljulie said on Thursday, Dec 22 at 9:45 PM
Get outside, get some exercise, and go tanning!The media hasn't yet caught up with the medical reversal that tanning is actually benefical, and gives your body natural vitamin D, which is not really a vitamin, and can't be taken as a pill with the same results as sunlight gives. Some naysayers still freak out about skin cancer, but the reality is that the highest overall cancer rates are in the northeast, where it isn't all that sunny. Skin cancer is also easy to detect and eliminate. Vitamin D has been shown to greatly reduce the more serious internal cancers.
78863151JUSTICE said on Wednesday, Dec 28 at 10:42 AM
Its called "SAD" syndrome and it because the body dosen't get sun light that exposes your skin to the natural sun rays.The melatonin levels in your body decrease, thus the depression, sadness. The Light therapy for treating this is fantastic. 10,000 Lux lamp a therapy can 30 minutes a day can raise the level of your skins melatonin thus sending the brain a signal that triggers "happy". Worth the try and it works for us.Check the internet for Lamps, many, be sure you get the right one.
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