Depression and Light; Darkness, Light and Being Depressed

There is a very close association between darkness, depression and light. This has been established in persons suffering from seasonal affective disorder (SAD), where, during winter, when days are shorter, people go through severe depression. SAD is also called winter depression.

Certain unpleasant memories, incidents, experiences, events, and thoughts start replaying themselves with people who tend to sit at home with less physical outdoor activities, and all these negative emotions can trigger depression. The darkness from within almost relates to the darkness outside and various fears, negative feelings and emotions begin to manifest themselves in the form of hopelessness and worthlessness.

People find it increasingly difficult to overcome these feelings on their own. Every single day, they end up re-living these negative feelings, which lead to further complications like sleeplessness, mental and physical fatigue, and ultimately severe depression setting in.

Depression and light can be seen as opposites of the same scale, as light is often associated with activity, fearlessness, hope, and fun. Therefore, being outdoors and in the sunlight often helps distract, break the monotony, and ultimately bring out optimism in people.

Research studies indicate that people who are genetically predisposed to depression can easily suffer from depression during winter, mainly because with limited or no exposure to natural light and warmth, people tend to get gloomy and moody. These mood swings will translate to irritability, hypersensitivity, and ultimately result in major depression.

Therefore, people who are at a risk of suffering from various forms of depression that are seasonal in nature should seriously consider moving to areas where winters are milder and there is lot of sunlight and warmth. As depression and light do not go well together, doing so will make a huge difference to their mental and physical wellbeing. Ultimately, it is important for all round wellness for a human being to progress in life.

Depression and Light Therapy

People suffering from bipolar disorder respond well to light therapy, a treatment where people suffering from depression are exposed to light of a particular intensity. Most of them have expressed that they feel less depressed, energized, and even “happy”.

Light seems to have the same affect that antidepressants do and is therefore gaining tremendous popularity all over the globe. Instead of taking drug medications for long periods of time and suffering the side effects as well as exposing the body to toxins, it makes perfect sense to expose your body to light and the warmth thereof.

If weather permits, sunlight would be the best source of light therapy, because sunlight, especially during dawn, has the ability to calm the body and mind. Ancient Indian customs encourage people to wake up during dawn and perform the sunrise yoga, which involves stretching all the muscle groups in the human body facing the sun.

Useful Depression Resources