The summer months are usually a time of fun and happiness. For SAD sufferers it is a different story in the winter

You have a skip in your step, the birds are singing and you have the warm sun on your face. Come winter however and for a lot of people the mood changes. 3% of people suffer from a condition known as Seasonal Affective Disorder, which normally strikes every year, and a further 12% have reported mild cases.

Lethargy, mood swings, muscle pains and generally feeling low are among the many that people report.What causes this is not known exactly, but we do know that one of the major influences is lower light levels in winter causing brain and body chemical communication errors. The eyes are very sensitive to light levels and if there is not enough of it around, they will trigger the body to release melatonin in to the blood stream, making us feel lethargic and tired.

Believe it or not we can reduce the effect of Seasonal Affective Disorder by being careful about what we surround ourselves with in our homes. Living room and additionally bedroom furniture are often the most important to get right as these are the rooms that we spend most of our time in. Purchasing white furniture for example white wardrobes, tables and chairs will increase the amount of light that is reflected around the room and will have a large impact on mood.

A minimal approach to furniture is also a good idea as this helps open up rooms and reduces the feeling of being cluttered.If you have fewer pieces of furniture in a room, the light has a better opportunity to reflect around it and you will also be able to navigate it easier. You can also add to the efficiency of light circulation around a room by painting the walls in a light colour.

Some ideas for reducing the amount of furniture you have include only having your table large enough for everyday use and taking away or adding chairs if and when you need them, only have one bedside table instead of one each side, and getting rid of small pieces that only have aesthetic value.

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In the course of looking for a cure, a new alternative treatment has been brought to existence to address the issue on this disorder. If you are suffering from depression, this form of treatment may be of benefit to you if you prefer alternative methods.

Light therapy is the most recent form of alternative therapies for depression. It is one of the several types of alternative methods being used in the treatment of disorders relating to depression. Light therapy makes use of ‘light boxes’ in the treatments. These light boxes provide 10,000 lux of artificial light. Light therapy is also known as phototherapy, which for a specified length of time the patient is exposed to particular wavelengths of light.

Light therapy is known to be effective on persons who are experiencing seasonal affective disorder. This mood disorder is usually known as winter depression or winter blues. During the winter season this type of depression can be experienced by the patient repeatedly. Many experience the feeling of depression year after year. On the other hand, aside from seasonal affective disorder, light boxes were proven to help other types of depression as well.

The good thing about light boxes is that they do not cause skin damage compared to a variety of light therapies, such as those that make use of ultraviolet light. We are aware of the damage to the skin with prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light. Blue Light Treatment and light box treatment are associated, although compared to blue light, the light box gives a quicker therapeutic response to the individual who uses it. On the other hand, using blue light therapy to treat depression could be as responsive as using light boxes on younger patients, but is not an adequate depression treatment for mature patients.

Extensive disorders such as SAD and depression may take up to three weeks for any results to show, using any form of light therapy.

There are of course other forms of natural treatment for depression. Natural cures for depression do not rely on traditional prescription medications for a solution. Relaxation techniques, dietary changes, vitamins and supplements are a few other methods. As you can see there are different forms of alternative treatments available, so the choice is yours if you prefer a more natural method.

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