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Seasonal Affective Disorder and the Winter Blues

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This time of year is not the most pleasant for everyone. The cold weather, long nights and dark mornings makes many of us feel low but the ?winter blues’ can often be a sign of a physical problem that affects millions of people every year.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a genuine mood disorder that many people suffer from during the winter months. Symptoms of SAD vary, but commonly they are similar to other forms of depression, although often they may be quite mild and consist of: struggling to get up in the morning, overeating, lack of energy, mood swings, lack of concentration and disinterest in socializing.

And while some these symptoms may affect us all at some time of our lives, they can be an annual occurrence in sufferers of SAD.

These seasonal mood variations are believed to be light related. Light, as we know, is essential for human health. Not only does sunlight help us produce vitamin D but it also appears to affect our mood and internal rhythms – such as our body clock.

Evidence for light being the cause of this widespread winter blues is in the success light therapy has had in alleviating symptoms. Light therapy is when bright lights are used several times of day, especially in the early morning and evening when the natural light fails.

But normal light-bulbs do not produce the same type of light that daylight does. Our house lights are far too yellow and unnatural to help alleviate the symptoms of SAD. However, light bulbs that produce a more natural light, are produced and can go a long way to lift the depression that affects so many people during the winter months.

The natural daylight producing Biobulb

The natural daylight producing Biobulb

These natural light producing light bulbs give off three times the amount of natural light, or lumens, that conventional bulbs do. But this high output doesn’t mean they are not environmentally friendly.
These Biobulbs are only 25W and work in a similar fashion to energy saving light bulbs – lasting for over 10,000 hours.

And even if Seasonal Affective Disorder doesn’t affect you, having a natural light source can improve mood, prevent headaches and give a more natural, softer feeling to your home in the evening.
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