One method of treating seasonal depression is based on a common sense observation: during winter our mental tonus decreases. Psychic state on first morning hours is poor. When we wake up early we suffer a psychological distress.

Sure some people feel this change in their psychic life very intense; others less and some not at all.

Psychiatrists and psychologists think that this depression that begins in October or November and vanishes at the beginning of March is due to reduced quantities of solar light during winter season.

Human being urged to hibernate by its subconscious!? Well… could be. Hibernation is the only known phenomenon that seasonal depression relates to (it’s not exactly overlying with it but still…)

When people suffer from seasonal depression, they…

• feel exhausted;
• they have no energy;
• they tend to isolate from friends and even family;
• they experience changes in appetite for food;
• they feel sad (like they have no purpose or no hopes left).

Researchers from USA proposed light therapy for fighting this kind of depression (which represents 4 or 5% from all depressions, says Jurgen-Christian Krieg from Munchen Institute of Psychiatry).

Since 1984 Light Therapy was a success at Psychiatry Clinic of Bale University. 200 patients received this therapy , which consists of exposure in front of a lamp that has 6 fluorescent tubes (its light reproduces solar spectrum). In the morning or during the evening the patients “take a light bath” for an hour, placing themselves at a distance of minimum 80 centimeters from the fluorescent lamp (2500 lux intensity).

During light therapy sessions patients can serve breakfast, or if the case dinner, they can read or just rest. At certain intervals they look at the light source.

The results of light therapy are very encouraging; almost 60 to 70% of the patients prevail over their initial state. Side effects are very rare.

But before trying any therapy, go and catch some light by taking a walk outside during the day, every day! When you come back inside your place, use more lighting in your rooms if possible. Stay close to windows to catch some natural light.

And try exercising. Work out! Make your blood flow through your veins. Is it not you who can beat the illness? If not you …then who else?