But the longer days of spring – and the lingering sunlight of brilliant Northwest summers – can trigger summer mania, a kind of winter blues in reverse.

In some people, the extended daylight hours awaken dormant circadian rhythms, with a resulting burst of energy that rivals, for impact, the deepest winter depressions.

Scientists also find that the seasons affect the biological balance of the natural hormone melatonin, which regulates the sleep-wake cycle, and the brain chemical serotonin, which contributes to feelings of contentment.

Symptoms of spring and summer SAD include anxiety, insomnia, irritability, agitation, poor appetite, weight loss and increased sex drive, according to the Mayo Clinic.

“There is a summer hypomania, but there’s not as much research (on it),” says Dr. Tamar Lieb, a naturopath and midwife with an office in Ferndale. “It’s more common in places where there’s a stark difference between sunlight and night.”

Dr. Henry Levine, a psychiatrist who practices in Bellingham, says the sweltering heat of summer in warmer climates can cause SAD-like symptoms, just as extended summer daylight in the northern latitudes can confuse the body’s natural clock.

“There are two different aspects to the summertime SAD,” Levine says. “Closer to the equator, there are people who get depressed when it’s hot, but it just doesn’t get that hot around here. The other kind, that’s based on light, that’s very common around here.”

Summer hypomania is most prevalent among people who suffer bipolar disorder, says Levine, who was a primary care physician on Lummi Reservation in the 1970s. He completed training in psychiatry at the University of North Carolina and returned to Whatcom County in 1979.

But Levine says people can suffer milder symptoms of summer SAD without being bipolar.

“It is a matter of degrees,” he says.

Lieb, who moved to Whatcom County from Seattle about a year ago, studied naturopathic medicine at Bastyr University in Kenmore. She has lectured locally on SAD.

“A large number of the people that I encounter … are somewhat affected by the weather and seasonal changes,” she says. “Different people experience the seasons differently.”

SAD isn’t considered its own psychological disorder, Lieb says. Rather, it’s a subset of more serious kinds of depression, such as bipolar disorder. Even though many people may feel blue from time to time in winter – or even in summer – it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re clinically depressed, she says.

“It’s important to realize that, as with any mood disorder, there’s a spectrum,” she says.

For mild SAD, Lieb suggests keeping stable routines appropriate to the season – such as opening window shades during the day and leaving lights on during winter. Conversely, it helps to draw the shades when twilight lingers near bedtime in the summer, a trick that’s especially good with small children who have early bedtimes.

Other tips include getting plenty of exercise and avoiding television and caffeinated beverages.

“Whatever works for them to help calm their energy down,” Lieb says.

Levine agrees. He also suggests soft music and low-stress pursuits in the evening.

“Those people need to start earlier in the evening managing their activity,” he says. “Reading a book rather than running later at night; drawing the shades, particularly on the west side of the house. All the things that one would normally do to try to settle down become more important.”

If depression persists or worsens, however, both Lieb and Levine suggest a visit to a mental-health professional.

“It’s always a good thing to talk to someone proactively,” Lieb says.

SAD SYMPTOMS

Fall & Winter

• Depression
• Hopelessness
• Anxiety
• Loss of energy
• Heavy, “leaden” feeling in arms or legs
• Social withdrawal
• Oversleeping
• Loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed
• Appetite changes, especially a craving for foods high in carbohydrates
• Weight gain
• Difficulty concentrating

Spring & Summer

• Anxiety
• Trouble sleeping (insomnia)
• Irritability
• Agitation
• Weight loss
• Poor appetite
• Increased sex drive

WHEN TO SEEK HELP

Reach out for help if you feel down for days at a time and can’t seem to get motivated to do activities you normally enjoy. That’s particularly important if your sleep patterns and appetite have changed, or if you feel hopeless, think about suicide or use alcohol or drugs for solace.

TREATMENT

Draw shades and dim interior lights before bedtime.

Exercise earlier in the day.

Avoid caffeinated beverages.

Avoid TV at bedtime (try reading or listening to an audio book instead).

Read more here: http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2013/05/06/2977846/summer-sad-too-much-sunshine.html#storylink=cpy

What causes SAD?
Research is ongoing, but scientists believe that SAD is related to various factors and causes, including:

Reduced sensitivity to light

Problems with a person’s biological clock (circadian rhythm)

Decreased levels of serotonin, a brain chemical that affects mood

Do I have SAD?
SAD can be difficult to diagnose. Many of its symptoms are similar to those of other mental health and emotional issues. Generally, symptoms that recur for at least two consecutive winters, without any other explanation suggest SAD.

If you think you may have SAD, check for these symptoms as the season starts to change:

Change in appetite, especially cravings for sweet or starchy foods

Weight gain

Decreased energy

Fatigue

Tendency to oversleep

Difficulty concentrating

Irritability

Avoidance of social situations

Feelings of anxiety and despair

Am I at risk for developing SAD?
Depending on where in the world you live, SAD can affect close to 10% of the general population, and some people are more at risk than others:

Age: SAD may affect some children and teenagers, but it tends to begin in people over the age of 18

Gender: The condition is more common in women than in men

Geography: People who live in northern countries, where winter days are shorter, are also at higher risk

The good news is there are steps you can take to make things better.

How can I deal with SAD?
SAD can seriously affect your personal and professional life. If you find yourself thinking about harming yourself or others, seek professional help immediately. There are also a few things you can do for yourself to keep SAD at bay:

Spend more time outdoors during daylight hours. For example, walk to the grocery store or shovel the driveway.

Redesign your interior. Keep the curtains open during the day. Add lamps and rearrange furniture so that you can sit near a window as often as possible. Also, trim tree branches that block light.

Make outdoor exercise part of your daily life. Walk your dog at the park or stroll around the block on your lunch hour. If you prefer to exercise indoors, position yourself near a window for maximum sunlight exposure.

Take a winter vacation in a sunny place. This can temporarily relieve SAD symptoms.

Resist the carbohydrate cravings that come with SAD by sticking to a healthy diet.

You can also speak with your doctor or health care provider about:

Light therapy. This treatment involves sitting next to a special light box for several minutes each day.

Jordan Rodney, President of MaxPeoplePerform, a small Thornhill-based HR consulting firm, says he encounters many questions regarding the seasonal affective disorder, both from clients and in his own workplace.

Rodney says his business tries to practice what they preach, and he’s seen first-hand the success some small, yet important initiatives can have in avoiding a production dip once the winter months roll around.

He says small businesses are more susceptible to the hiccups that come with seasonal changes.

“I use the analogy of a football team versus a basketball team. If you’re a big business, a football team, and someone gets hurt, you have plenty of backup” he says. “But if you lose a key motivated and engaged individual on a basketball team — in a small business, it’s going to impact you.”

It all begins with wellness, and one of the truest and time-tested ways to crush the winter blues is through exercise, says fitness expert Veronica Marsden.

“Resist the temptation to hibernate this winter,” says Marsden, President of Tri Fit, a workplace health and fitness provider. “Take your dog for extra long walks, start a neighbourhood walking club or sign up for yoga classes. The energy boost is guaranteed to make you feel good.”

Rodney, for his part, says shaking things up at the office works wonders in capturing the hearts and minds of employees.

“Socialize with your staff,” he says. “Keep them busy on creative projects, have them outside of their comfort zone. Have them thinking about that different job, rather than the depression of 4:30 p.m. darkness, or waking up and it’s still dark.

This, he says, helps prevent distraction and makes gloomy winter days go by faster.

But if you don’t want to interrupt workflow, there are more subtle ways to pep up your staff, such as installing UV light bulbs that replicate sunlight in common areas.

“Natural sunlight is critical, and obviously you can’t get that much in the winter,” said Rodney.

Instilling ’summer hours,’ allowing your staff to bank extra hours for shortened Fridays, can also help — especially since it means beating end-of-week traffic.

“If you’re in Toronto on the 401 or 404 at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, it’s torturous,” he says. “Being able to leave the office when it’s still daylight is much better.”

Article from thestar.com

But did you know researchers are now using this information to help them piece together information on a whole range of conditions including influenza, dengue fever, kidney stones and, most recently, mental illness?

For example, if you Googled certain mental health terms between 2006 and 2010, this information may have been used in a recent study that found a link between the seasons and Google searches for mental health information.

The researchers found mental health-related queries peaked in winter months and dropped away in summer months, a pattern that also coincides with the number of hours of sunlight in a day.

While links between seasons and some mental health issues have already been established – for instance seasonal affective disorder is a mood disorder known to be associated with seasonal changes – these findings surprised the researchers.

One of the researchers, psychiatrist Dr James Niels Rosenquist of Massachusetts General Hospital, said: “We didn’t expect to find similar winter peaks and summer troughs for queries involving every specific mental illness or problem we studied, however, the results consistently showed seasonal effects across all conditions – even after adjusting for media trends.”

Using Google Trends, the researchers assessed all mental health queries from Australia and the United States during the five year period. They then grouped the search terms by type of mental illness, and used mathematical models to detect trends in the searches.

What they found in both countries was mental health-related internet searches dropped during summer. Specifically, searches related to:

• eating disorders decreased by 42 per cent in Australia (37 per cent in the US)
• schizophrenia decreased by 36 per cent in Australia (37 per cent in the US)
• attention deficit hyperactivity disorder decreased by 31 per cent in Australia (28 per cent in the US)
• suicide decreased by 29 per cent in Australia (24 per cent in the US)
• depression decreased by 22 per cent in Australia (19 per cent in the US)
• bipolar disorder decreased by 17 per cent in Australia (16 per cent in the US)
• anxiety decreased by 15 per cent in Australia (7 per cent in the US)
• obsessive compulsive disorder decreased by 15 per cent in Australia (18 per cent in the US).

By using internet-based searches, the authors argue they avoided some of the challenges involved in looking at population-wide trends in mental illness. Telephone surveys are often used to gather this data, but respondents can be reluctant to discuss their mental health under these circumstances, which makes it difficult for researchers to get access to the information they need.

The study’s lead investigator, Professor John Ayers of the Graduate School of Public Health at San Diego State University, said: “Monitoring population mental illness trends has been an historic challenge for scientists and clinicians alike — the Internet is a game changer. By passively monitoring how individuals search online we can figuratively look inside the heads of searchers to understand population mental health patterns.”

The researchers admit this study doesn’t explain why people conducted these searches; they argue, however, it could help with the development of future research and even online-based treatments for mental illness.

The author of the research also noted that 6 out of 7 older patients diagnosed with depression did not meet the twelve-month major depressive episode criteria.

Additionally, it was found that the majority of the study participants took prescription psychiatric medications (antidepressants) for their depression.

Previous statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found a 400% increase in the use of antidepressants during the 2005-2008 period. During the 1988-1994 period, only 11% were taking antidepressants.

According to the CDC’s website, the following groups are more likely to meet the diagnostic criteria for major depression:

• persons 45-64 years of age
• women
• blacks, Hispanics, non-Hispanic persons of other races or multiple races
• persons with less than a high school education
• those previously married
• individuals unable to work or unemployed
• persons without health insurance coverage

The new research findings strongly suggest some doctors do not understand the difference between sub-threshold symptoms and the diagnostic criteria for the diagnosis of major depressive disorder.

Concerned individuals are advised to be consciously aware of their symptoms, therefore being concise in relating their concerns to their doctors.

Renee is urging other organizations, schools, and the media to reach out and get involved. “This is a prevention plan. Instead of sticking a band aid on the mammoth of issues our children face: cyber bulling, growing rates of anxiety, depression and increasingly violent behavior – we’re going straight to the heart of the issue.”

Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/business/press-releases/article/Mental-Health-Awareness-Month-GoZen-Launching-4481762.php#ixzz2SAv699Kb

The study, which is found in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine, looks at the number of Google searches in the United States and Australia for all major mental illnesses, and the season when the queries occurred. The data showed that more Google searches happened during the winter than in the summer.

These results could suggest that more people suffer from mental illnesses or an increase in symptoms during the winter months than during summer months, based on searches for more information about mental illnesses during those months via Google.

Major mental illnesses considered in the study include anxiety, OCD, bipolar disorder, ADHD, anorexia and depression.

Eating disorder (anorexia and bulimia) and schizophrenia queries were some of the more prevalent mental illnesses searched for during the winter (37 percent higher searches in winter than in summer for both). Anxiety was only searched for slightly more often during the winter than in the summer (7 percent higher in winter).

Experts add insight into the study and what it could actually mean in regards to addressing and treating mental illnesses.

Dr. Natalie Azar, an assistant clinical professor of medicine and rheumatology at NYU Langone Medical Center, said in an email that the method of tracking seasonality for mental illnesses could have been accomplished in other ways besides Google.

“I’m not sure the data is that robust when it’s through Google searches,” Azar said. “Other ways to determine this might be increases in mental health visits, increase in prescribing practice for anti depressants, anti anxiety agents may also provide useful data.”

The study does note that the methods are not traditional, and because of that, it might be a better way of tracking patterns that otherwise wouldn’t have been noticeable.

She said although the study is interesting, the idea of seasonal differences in mental illnesses isn’t new.

“Seasonal affective disorder has been described in the psychiatric literature for decades,” Azar said. “Depression can exacerbate underlying eating and anxiety disorders, so all are likely to be increased in the winter months.”

She said the results of the study could be used to encourage more screenings for mental illnesses during winter months.

One way to help reduce mental health issues during the winter is to make sure to get enough sun.

Azar suggested that 10 minutes of non-SPF sun exposure a few times a week would be sufficient to prevent vitamin D deficiency.

Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith, the author of Set Free to Live Free: Breaking Through the 7 Lies Women Tell Themselves, said in an email that she’s noticed patients with eating disorders and other mental illnesses have an increase in their symptoms during the months from November through March.

“The severity of the symptoms seems to be in direct proportion to the amount of stress the person is under during those times,” Dalton-Smith said.

She said she sees the number of other patients with mental illnesses like depression and anxiety increase especially between Thanksgiving and New Year’s.

“These particular mental illnesses [are] often exacerbated during times of the year when there is a greater expectation of personal performance,” Dalton-Smith said.

“Many people try to live up to the images they have created for their lives, and the stress of trying to live up to unrealistic expectations become too great to bear, leading to alternative unhealthy coping mechanisms.”

She said the study demonstrates that even if people aren’t talking to others about their seasonal mental health issues, they are trying to get help via the Internet.

“They want help, but are often afraid of what others will think of them if their ‘secret’ is out; when in reality being open and honest about their struggles is the primary step in healing, and the one most needed to be conquered,” Dalton-Smith said.

She hopes that the study increases awareness of seasonal mental health issues and encourages people to speak up and get proper help. The study lets people know that there are many others who have similar issues, and they are not alone.

Article from EmpowHER.

“All of us have a range of emotions, and depression is part of that, sadness is part of that,” said Dr. Kevin Hess, Inpatient Psychiatric Director at Sacred Heart Hospital.

There’s no doubt we’re all tired of seeing gray skies.

But just because we’re stuck singing the winter blues, that doesn’t mean depression is setting in.

“If a person has depressed feelings, or lack of interest in pleasure for more times than not for at least a two-week period of time, then we’re talking about clinical depression. And that needs to be screened, properly diagnosed and treated,” Hess said.

A feeling of gloom that matches the weather isn’t uncommon. Seasonal Affective Disorder is a real form of depression, but often one that people exaggerate.

“With the protracted winter weather that we’re experiencing in the area, many people talk about that. And it is depressing so to speak, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re struggling with major depressive disorders or even seasonal affective disorder. It’s just more disappointing that we haven’t seen more of a spring at this point,” explained Hess.

Sacred heart hospital hosted the first of five free screening events for clinical depression Tuesday night, and the process is simple.

“Something as practical as a one-page screener, with questions and answers that the physician could review that and make a determination whether that’s something that needs to be addressed further and treated,” Hess said.

Roughly 19 million Americans suffer from depression each year. But the good news is, treatment is out there.

“Reaching out to your support system, talk therapy, of course medications are all options. Some patients require inpatient psychiatric treatment. But I think the important thing is to ask for help. Because this is very treatable, and there is help available,” said Hess.

Here are some signs to keep in mind; if a friend or loved one has been losing sleep over an extended period of time, or has had a change in their energy level or appetite; those are signs something could be wrong, and they should be evaluated.  Sacred Heart Hospital will host four other walk-in events in May.

-May 4th from noon until 4 p.m. at Sacred Heart Hospital

-May 9th from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. at L.E. Phillips Senior Center

-May 14th from 4:30 until 8:30 p.m. at Sacred Heart Hospital

-May 21st from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Oakwood Mall’s Family Resource Center

Read article HERE.

After enduring the Winter That Won’t End, we checked how daily life was being affected in the land of 10,000 ice-filled lakes. Some snapshots from the cold front:

FISHING OPENER ON ICE?

Resort owners wonder if northern lakes will be free of ice for the walleye fishing openers.

The Wisconsin opener is May 4, with official festivities planned for the Cable area. The Minnesota opener is May 11, when Gov. Mark Dayton and others will descend on Park Rapids — where more than 2 feet of ice remained this week.

PLAY (SNOW)BALL!

In a typical baseball season, “we’d probably be about six games in,” said Chad Sexauer, activities director for the South St. Paul schools.

This spring, he said, “we’ve not played a baseball game, we’ve not had a track meet, we have not had anyone on the golf courses.”

When play finally starts, the remaining schedule will be squished together. Teams will play on Saturdays, play shortened games and squeeze in a game or a match wherever they can.

SKI IN MAY?

Some good news: Trollhaugen ski resort in Dresser, Wis., is experiencing its longest season ever, its marketing director, David Sutton, said.

Skiers and snowboarders showed up by the hundreds when the resort reopened last weekend. It was scheduled to be open again Saturday, April 20 — as the ski season nears the six-month mark.

“This is basically one for the history books,” Sutton said. “At this point, my personal mantra is ‘Go for May.’ ”

SPRING SWEEP

When springtime doesn’t arrive, neither do chimney sweeps.

Lingering snow “basically puts your business at a standstill,” said Joe Spoden, owner and operations manager of Jack Pixley Sweeps of Andover. “It really hurts businesses like ours.”

After winter nights by a roaring fire, homeowners often get their chimneys swept in the spring because creosote residue create an unpleasant smell on warm, humid days.

HARD WATER

Last year at this time, Bayport Marina had moved one-third of its boats into the St. Croix River from winter storage.

This year? None.

That’s because there is still 17 inches of ice in the marina’s bay, marina manager Cliff Lewis said.

“It hurts a little bit because boaters can’t spend any money until they get into the water,” Lewis said.

FLIP-FLOPS, ANYONE?

Target Corp. had high hopes going into this spring. But selling summery clothes and patio gear turned out to be tough sledding as the Midwest faced weeks of snow and cold.

This week, Target finally conceded that sales were slumping in “seasonal and weather-sensitive categories” and that first-quarter profits wouldn’t

Fresh snow blankets stacks of deck chairs outside of an Ace Hardware store on Nicollet Avenue in South Minneapolis on Friday, April 19, 2013. (Pioneer Press: Ben Garvin)

be as sunny as hoped.

RAISE HOPES. DASH HOPES. REPEAT.

At the Eagle Valley Golf Course in Woodbury, operations supervisor Dan Moris called this spring “Mother Nature’s cruel joke.”

The back-and-forth weather forecasts have been especially annoying.

“It looked like the weather would change, then — oops! — another snowstorm,” Moris said. “Then it would look promising. Then another snowstorm.”

He’s hoping the course opens April 24. That’s six weeks later than last year, and would be the latest opening in its 15-year history.

NOT SAD, JUST MAD

You’ve probably heard of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a common wintertime depression. This year’s extended winter seems to be making many folks glum or grouchy.

Nice Ride bikes at a rack near Shepard Road in St. Paul did not get much use as snow and sleet hit the Twin Cities on April 18, 2013. (Pioneer Press: Scott Takushi)

Are we all suffering from SAD?

Dr. Alan Steed, a clinical psychologist at the Allina Clinic in Eagan, thinks not.

“I think everybody’s just fed up with the weather just because of expectations” that by April we should be outdoors enjoying sunshine and warm weather.

“This is just seasonal fed-up disorder,” he joked.

SPRING RUSH, CONDENSED

At Gertens Greenhouses & Garden Center in Inver Grove Heights, owner Lewis Gerten expects a short-but-intense spring season.

Gerten said the business typically does 90 percent of its flower sales from May 1 to June 1.

But with the late start this year, he said, “Instead of doing five weeks of business nice and even, we’re going to do five weeks in three weeks.”

REFUGE

A pedestrian walks through Rice Park in downtown St. Paul as snow and sleet hit the Twin Cities on Thursday, April 18, 2013. (Pioneer Press: Scott Takushi)

FROM THE STORM

Bad weather has been good for movie theaters.

“The first few gorgeous, warm weekends usually hurt our business a bit, and it hasn’t happened yet this year,” said Hugh Wronski, senior regional publicist for the Landmark Theatres in Minneapolis and Edina.

TOO COLD FOR CORN

The ideal window for planting corn in Minnesota begins next week. But there’s no spring planting when fields are snowy. That’s making farmers antsy, although crop specialists are preaching patience.

“We’re not late yet,” said Dave Nicolai, a University of Minnesota extension specialist. “People shouldn’t panic. What makes such an impact now is, we’ve had so many days of snow cover. There’s something psychological about snow cover.”

Corn growers need the soil to reach 50 degrees for seeds to grow properly. In western Minnesota this week, soil temperatures were only 33 degrees — and had actually fallen over the past two weeks.

IF IT WON’T MELT, MOVE IT.

Washington County maintenance workers had an unusual job for mid-April.

“We had guys out moving snow piles from parking lots this week, but usually this time of year they’d be out fixing potholes,” said public works director Don Theisen.

Theisen foresees no major weather-related delays to road projects or maintenance. But, he added, “It’s going to put more pressure on our parks, because the weather will get nice and people will all of a sudden want to start camping.”

ICE CREAM, ANYONE?

Cold is good for storing ice cream. But it’s terrible for selling ice cream. Ask Jeff Sommers, co-owner of Izzy’s ice cream shop in St. Paul (and in June, opening in Minneapolis, too).

Sales are running about half of what they were last year, Sommers said this week.

How is he surviving? “One day at a time,” Sommers said.

AT LEAST YOU’RE NOT A DEER

It’s tough on deer and pheasants “when we’ve had winters that linger this late,” said Steve Merchant, wildlife manager at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

But this extended winter had a few helpful twists, at least for wildlife.

“There’s been some thawing and significant reduction in the snowpack — even though it keeps coming back,” Merchant said. He anticipates some deer losses but suspects “things don’t look too bad for pheasants.”

TEDDY BEAR PARK ON HOLD

For the city of Stillwater, the springtime routine of pothole patching, street sweeping and opening city parks has been delayed. That will push routine spring maintenance deeper into May and June.

Even popular Teddy Bear Park, which normally opens April 15, remains closed, said Shawn Sanders, Stillwater’s director of public works.

“We haven’t had time to open up the bathrooms yet,” Sanders said. “We hope to get it open for the weekend.”

A LOVELY YARD — REALLY

Spring is a key season for home sellers and buyers. But with winter hanging on, real estate agents say home sellers are reluctant to put their houses on the market.

The reason: They worry that their homes won’t sell as quickly if potential buyers can’t see the yards beneath a blanket of snow.

SUMMER DREAMS

Despite last weekend’s cold and snow, “We had a fabulous weekend,” said Cheryl Boer, saleswoman for Twill by Scott Dayton, a men’s apparel store in the Galleria in Edina.

The store is showing pastels and linens, shorts and madras, and Boer has a theory why customers are responding despite the untropical weather: “I think some people are looking for some shopping therapy.”

TWICE AS COLD

Minnesota residents have used twice as much natural gas this winter as last winter, according to CenterPoint Energy, the state’s largest natural gas provider.

That has raised heating bills, but less than one might think. Because of much-lower natural gas prices, the average residential bill is up only 20 percent, CenterPoint said.

COLD STATISTICS

When it’s cold and snowy, traffic accidents increase. But motorists drive more slowly in winter, so “injury and fatal crashes decrease,” said Lt. Eric Roeske of the Minnesota State Patrol.

That historical pattern has largely held true in Minnesota this year, Roeske said.

“Compared to last year, we have handled more crashes but fatalities were down,” he said.

FEWER CYCLES, MORE SOUP

“It’s just like February keeps continuing,” said Marty Erickson, manager of County Cycles in Roseville.

At this time last year, the bicycle shop was busy with sales and service. Not so much this year. Erickson said a shorter riding season could translate into a 1 percent to 2 percent drop in annual revenue.

Business also is down at the Freewheel Midtown Bike Center in Minneapolis. But cafe manager Mario Macaruso said he’s been selling lots of soup and coffee to chilly commuters on the Greenway trail.

Article from Pioneer Press.

Oversleeping, fatigue, lack of interest in daily activities, feeling tense and anxious, low mood are all symptoms of depression. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) occurs throughout the winter months as the days get shorter we are reduced to exposure of sunlight.

Lack of sunlight can affect the hormones melatonin and serotonin and play havoc with our circadian rhythm.

There is such a thing to the winter blues, SAD sufferers tend to suffer from depression the same time of the year and feel better usually the beginning of spring.

There are treatments for seasonal affective disorder, antidepressants may be used but there are natural alternatives, counseling and therapies such as CBT might be suggested by your doctor depending on how severe the depression is.

Light Therapy

Light therapy is a treatment for seasonal affective disorder. A light box is specially made, and exposure to artificial sunlight may relieve symptoms by changing the chemicals and hormones in the brain. There are a few light boxes on the market, but essentially you’re looking for the best in light intensity, price, design and safety.

Watch the difference in mood by exposing yourself to the light, 15 minutes to an hour a day is all that is needed. It is literally your HAPPY light.