Feeling S.A.D.?

Common this time of year in as many as 10% of the population in our northern latitudes is a disorder called Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.). Most of us tend to react to shorter days this time of year with changes in our mood and behavior. Most people find they eat more and sleep longer. For some, these changes are severe enough to disrupt their lives. These people are suffering from S.A.D.

Susceptibility to S.A.D. appears to be inherited, and most sufferers are female. Traditional treatment often involves mood-altering drugs. Instead, choose a more natural approach: exposure to bright light.

Don't stare at the sun, but for at least 20 minutes daily, remove your glasses or contact lenses and let sunlight strike your face. Light entering the body through the eyes stimulates the pineal and hypothalamus glands, which in turn play a powerful role in regulating your internal body clock and hormonal balance.

In more serious cases of S.A.D., specific professionally-directed LIGHT THERAPY is necessary. If you feel you or your loved one fits this category, let us know so we can refer you to an optometrist trained in this work.