I shone a spiritual light on Seasonal Affective Disorder

Originally appeared on spirituality.com

After a hard winter, most of us would gladly exchange gray skies for a few days of sunshine. Travel brochures tempt us with promises of sun-filled getaways. But while a few days away may be pleasant, it is not a permanent solution to Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD.

During a particularly dull and damp summer nearly eight years ago, I suffered from all the symptoms of SAD. I had a bad case of the blues and I couldn’t shake it. I felt tired and listless during waking hours even though I was getting plenty of sleep. My husband noticed the change in my thought and behavior. I was struggling with feelings of depression and there was no end insight. Nearly everyone I talked with was convinced that lack of sunshine adversely affects moods. I heard about it on TV and read about it in the newspaper. I identified with SAD and felt that this was my problem.

Many stores sell special lamps that produce an artificial sunlight meant to combat seasonal depression. And that’s only one of the marketed cures. I tried some of the other recommended remedies, but they didn’t work.

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