Baby Boomers U. S. (The Blog)

6 Factors That Contribute To Depression In The Winter

Posted: 24 Dec 2011 03:01 AM PST

This is a Guest Post by Pierre Coetzer, Freelance writer from South Africa. If you would like to Guest Post for Baby Boomers US, check out our Guest Post for Us page.

Depression in the winter afflicts a large number of people who live in the northern climates. But there are a number of other reasons behind it.

If you have suffered from depression in the winter and yet at other times of the year have a normal mood, it could be a condition called seasonal affective disorder (SAD). It comes along quietly in the fall and really strikes you down when winter is at its worst. Yet when sunnier days arrive in spring it seems to clear up all by itself.

Just what the causes of seasonal affective disorder are remains unknown. Because the human body is such a complicated system, it is most likely a mixture of contributing factors. Genetics, age and the body’s natural chemical composition all play a role in creating the condition. But there are a few specific factors that have been identified:

Your biological clock (circadian rhythm). Winter's reduced sunlight can disturb your body’s internal clock. This rhythm regulates when you sleep and when you are awake and a disruption of your natural rhythm may lead to feeling depressed.
Melatonin levels. Sleep, as well as mood, is also regulated by the natural hormone, melatonin. The change in season can cause melatonin levels to vary. Often elevated levels of melatonin are present in sufferers of seasonal affective disorder.
Serotonin levels. Reduced sunlight can decrease serotonin levels. This hormone plays an important role to control mood. Many antidepressant medications address serotonin levels in the body.
Females are more prone to go through an unhappy phase as the seasons change.
People living in northern climates are more likely to experience symptoms in the colder months.
Children are not often affected, but it can start to manifest during the teenage years.

How Do I Lighten My Mood?

While doctors will treat most depressed patients symptomatically with antidepressants, you can do something for yourself. Here's how to beat the winter blues:

Step into the light

Light therapy was used with success when seasonal depression was first researched. If you don't want to spend the money on expensive light boxes you can spend a little more time outdoors. Even if natural light is weak, you will see an improvement. Every little bit helps.

Vitamin D will do it naturally

Vitamin D levels are lower when we are not exposed to adequate levels of UV-light. By taking vitamin D supplements you can rectify this imbalance.

Choose to clear the air

Research published in the American Journal of Psychiatry found that negatively charged ions in the air around us can elevate a depressed mood. Negatively charged ions are more densely packed in purified air and this is where even small air filters can be used to clear the air and clear away a low mood.

By reading home air filters reviews , you will come across more detail of the benefits they can provide.

Fish may hold a secret

By adding more fish to your diet, you could be doing your mood some good too. Some northern countries where fish is a staple food have a lower incidence of depressive episodes in the darker months. This is despite the low number of daylight hours there. It is thought that it could be caused by the omega-3 fatty acids contained in fish.

Whatever choice you make to improve your mood, know that there are a host of options available even if you can't change the seasons. Happiness and better quality of life is within easy reach.

About the Author: Pierre Coetzer is a freelance writer living in sunny South Africa. He spent his early career in the medical world with a special interest in psychiatry. He regularly writes about health and lifestyle issues.

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Really Cool Christmas Light Show [Video]

Posted: 24 Dec 2011 02:56 AM PST

I saw this little Christmas Light Show in my travels on the net and just had to share it with you on Chrismas Eve.
Damion Rodriguez developed this cool light display set to “The Little Drummer Boy” at a friend’s house in Fountain Valley, California, to honor their friend who passed away this past May.

56,100-LED memorial light show set to “The Little Drummer Boy”