Many patients feel "down" and depression worsens with the holidays as well as the shortened days that come along with the winter months. I hate winter and love summer, which has pool days and relaxation. I honestly wish sometimes that I lived in Costa Rica so I didn't have to deal with this horrible winter weather.
Enter light therapy. This evidence-based natural treatment for seasonal depression that actually works for many patients. I love recommending light therapy because it is easy to do at home for 30 minutes a day in the morning and is cheap and doesn't involve much work.
You can purchase a light on amazon easily for a very reasonable price. The best lights need to be 10,000 lux lights that use fluorescent bulbs with white light. (Incandescent light poses risks to the cornea and retina.) You position the light 16 to 31 inches away from your face to the side so the light shines onto your face. This distance is important because light intensity decreases dramatically the farther you are from the source.
You should sit under the light for 30 minutes every morning, preferably when you wake up. This stimulates the release of natural hormones that help with your circadian rhythm and help improve your mood: like melatonin and serotonin. Try it at least 2 weeks before giving up and remember to always discuss treatments with your doctor before starting any type of therapy!
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