Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Feeling S.A.D!




It is mid winter here in the southern hemisphere and the temptation to stay indoors and hibernate is high! Outdoors is bleak and cold and the landscape seems to have lost some of its colour. It is a time when we can easily stake a claim to a comfy corner of the lounge,put the heaters on high and work our way through the stack of dvd’s calling to us from the tv cabinet.


For a lot of us (females) it is a time to let the hairs on our legs grow to the point where, come spring, we need a deforestation permit from local council to wax or shave them off! We might poke our head out on a chilly winters day, mutter a quick bbrrr and quickly come back in to make another hot chocolate.

This is all right and proper. We are following the natural cycles of the seasons and life. Winter is the time to let the fields lie fallow awaiting the return of spring and the traditional beginnings of new cycles of growth and life.


But wait....we are not bears...we are not meant to fully hibernate...we are human beings! We need fresh air, movement and most importantly ....LIGHT! (and yes!..hot chocolate!)
Our bodies rely on light for so many things. We need it for vitamin D synthesis, hormonal regulation and mood balancing.
We are solar powered beings that respond to light. Food and water help too of course but without light we would wither and die.



Sunlight gives us our measurable wavelengths and vibrations of colour. Each colour vibration found within sunlight ‘feeds’, balances and energises the energy centres , or chakras of the subtle anatomy of the human being which then influence our glandular system and hormone levels. If we shut out the sunlight we deny ourselves this vital energy source.



There is a condition called S.A.D or seasonal affective disorder that is directly attributable to prolonged low levels of natural sunlight.
This condition is more prevalent in some countries of the Northern Hemisphere where winter day light hours are short and the quality of light weak but it is also becoming more prevalent due to the demands of modern day life.
In winter, people who work in offices all day might arrive in the morning, spend all day inside an artificially lit building and then leave again at the end of the day when it is dark, having little or no exposure to natural light. As sunlight is vital to hormonal balance, what results is imbalanced hormone levels which can then lead to sadness and depressive states.


So! If you are feeling a bit down and gloomy this winter add some colour to your life. Brighten up your wardrobe. Add some splashes of colour to your home and head outside as often as you can for a healthy dose of light and colour therapy!

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey Leanne! You crack me up! Great job on the post! I agree with you on Color! Here in the northern hemisphere, it is summertime with all the colors of the world. I know you are freezin to death but hang in there! have a great cup of hot chocolate with a little nip of something extra and snuggle up!

Anonymous said...

Oh Leanne, your making me homesick for English winters, its so hot here in Marrakech you can hardly go outside.
Keep smiling.
Xanthe

♥ Cara Mia ♥ said...

Hi Leanne, I've actually been staying indoors because it's so hot here in the states, but your post has encouraged me to get out today and enjoy some sunshine! Thank you, and drink a cup of hot chocolate for me.
Cara Mia

Leanne Lonergan said...

I am having 'summer envy' of you guys! You are torturing me!!!!Yes another hot chocolate is the answer!

Anonymous said...

Hi! I totally understand! I live in New England where not only do we have dark winters, they're really really really long. Lots of aerobic exercise, like walking on a treadmill, also helps to keep things in balance, although there's no substitute for great sunlight.

I love your blog! Feel free to come over and visit mine at blog.peacockandpaisley.com
We discuss alternative medicine and spirituality and holistic health, and I welcome your input there!

Sunny days to you!

Sandra said...

Leanne,
Thank you for making me smile. This I why I love summer. In the States, everyone is saying, “is hot enough for you”, as they complain about the heat. I love the summer and I can commiserate with you about the winter. I love the thought of adding splashes of color to your wardrobe. You are right not only will it brighten your day but it will also brighten someone else’s. Peace :-)

Moonchild Dancing! said...

Love your post! While it's summer here I hope to come back to this post in the middle of the winter doldrums! :D I love the photo of one of your scarves tied to the post against the cool, dark day. Beautiful! Peace!

Anonymous said...

Great Blog Leanne, fantastic colours that can brighten any winters day! It certainly brought a smile to my face!

Anonymous said...

No, we are not meant to fully hibernate...I've often tended to regret that...then, I'm a big hairy guy who spends as much time as possible in the woods, and people have often compared me to a bear, so I can't help relating that to my own seasonal depression (or S.A.D.). Fortunately, now, I'm here in the northern part of the world, where summer is waning but still very much here. In the months to come...guess I'll deal with that when it comes....

Cool blog.

Toni said...

We're smack in the middle of summer here in California, just under 100 today but we have long rainy, cloudy winters.

Some winters I thought I was going crazy; the SAD symptoms were out of control then my husband brought home some Full-spectrum light bulbs and placed them in the lamp next to my chair, the lamps in the office and the lamp next to my side of the bed....bye-bye SAD, welcome back happy Toni!

Leanne Lonergan said...

Thanks for all you comments everyone. We actually had a warmish breeze here yesterday and even that was enough to lift the winter blues a little.

observer....Full spectrum lighting is a great idea!

Anonymous said...

I love the photo of the scarf on the old fence post - just stunning! I'm enjoying your blog - hope you don't mind but I'm tagging you:
http://bowerbirdz.wordpress.com/

Leanne Lonergan said...

No worries bowerbirdz!

Anonymous said...

well nice post though

Linda S. Socha said...

Great Post and true!
Love the colors love your blog
Linda