Winter Hating Midwest Mom Soaks in the Sunshine

I was just complaining about the weather the other day and whining how warmer climates have no clue what we cold weather folk go through during the winter.  When I think about that day sitting in front of the puter, bundled up and feeling the weight of the gray Michigan sky it seems like a different person.  I definitely had the winter blues.  But today, in the sunlit room feeling the warm beams bounce off my shoulder I feel ridiculously full of joy and excitement!

I saw a weather report from a downtown San Diego hotel today.  I thought, “Oh I’d love to be in San Diego right now enjoying the hot sun and checking out the sights.”  Then I noticed they have been in the mid 60s all week.  What?  But we hit 71 this week!  I would have never thought that we, in winter, could ever beat a California high.  My disposition just kept getting brighter.  That’s when I started thinking about the effects of sunlight, or lack of it, on a person’s mood.

I bet just about everyone suffers from SAD (seasonal affective disorder) to some degree.  SAD symptoms include depression, increased appetite, weight gain, carb cravings, increased sleep, lack of energy, decreased interest in work and activities, and social withdrawal.  Holy Moly!  Color me diagnosed!

But don’t go running off to get your Prozac and sunlight lamps just yet.  Most of us technically just have the “winter blahs”, experiencing one or more of the symptoms to a minimal degree.  But a person who truly suffers from SAD experiences the symptoms to a debilitating degree. Work and relationships are seriously affected which can lead to a spiral into deeper depression.  All that just from missing the sunshine.

Curiosity got me googling depression and sunlight and I found lots of information about sunshine being prescribed to treat illness in ancient times.  Olympic athletes in Roman times used sunbaths as part of their training.  That is so interesting to me, but not really a surprise I guess considering the positive affects I know it has on me and remembering that my Mom prescribed sun bathing to me in my ancient teens to clear up my skin.  :-)  And did you know that just ten minutes of sunlight gives you your vitamin D dose for the day?

You know, it isn’t very often that we find out that something we love is actually good for us.  In the sun’s case it seems that we have been warned away from it so much lately that the movement has been to avoid it.  Well like everything, moderation is the key right?  There is a big difference between ten minutes in the sun to soak up your vitamin D and five hours at the beach, sans protection, soaking up a tan.  Personally I am thrilled to have an excuse to put aside the cleaning, the writing, and the house selling and go outside for at least ten minutes each day and bask in the sun.  With spring just around the corner I couldn’t have stumbled upon this information at a better time!

How does the sun benefit you?