Sunlight – such a powerful resource in our lives in so many ways and it is particularly helpful for combating depression.  Many of you who responded to our pool seemed to understand the value of sunlight.  At the most basic level, basking in sunlight for just a few minutes can bring on a feeling of well-being and lift our mood.

The reason that sunlight can so easily energize us is that most of us are sunlight deprived.  We spend a huge amount of our time indoors – not the environment we were meant to be in so much.

Indoors, in a brightly lit room, the amount of light we are exposed to is 100 times or more, less than what we get on just an average day outside.  Even an overcast day it is many times brighter outside than in.

Our eyes and our brains were made to get a lot of exposure to sun in the out of doors.  This enhances our mood as sunlight increases the production of serotonin – a feel good neurotransmitter.  It also helps to keep our wake/sleep cycle in balance – also a great help for depression’s related sleep issues.

In the winter time or when we are depressed it can be difficult to get enough sunlight.  Some of us suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD where the shorter days of winter regularly trigger depressive episodes.

Fortunately light therapy boxes are now available to supplement your exposure to bright light.  There are many models now available that are affordable and easy to use.

For most of us, using a light therapy box is as easy as getting 30 minutes exposure early in the day during breakfast or when we are first checking our email.  If you have bipolar disorder you should check with your doctor about using light therapy because it can trigger mania or hypomania.  Also, if you have any problems with your eyes you should also check with your doctor before getting started.

I hope you will find a way to harness the power of the sun in your life soon.