The Darkest Winter
Posted by Michele Barber on Tuesday, March 26, 2013
While the sun is still trying to shine through and the tulips are in bloom, spring is still not yet here. We've had a few sunny days and everyone has found their spot in the sun to bask. While it was still to cold to stay outside, I was able to throw back the curtains, pull a comfy chair over to the window and bask in the sun like a cat, or Iguana. It was so nice to see the sun again after a long bleak, dreary winter. Yet, winter is still here.
The German news has described this winter as the darkest winter in 40 years. They said we had 50% less sunshine this winter. I'd believe that with the overcast skies every day whether it snowed or not/rained or not. Morning, noon, and evening, when one looked up into the sky nothing but dreary gray.
SAD is seasonal affective disorder. This is the feeling of depression, mild or severe, when there is not enough sunshine present. This lack of sunshine disrupts the body clock and can drop the level of certain "feel good" chemicals in the body. This is a real condition that affects many people in the northern regions where there is a big difference in the daylight hours in the winter seasons. This was a tough season for those affected by SAD this year. I know my body jumped for joy over seeing sunshine this month for the few days that we had it.
The German news has described this winter as the darkest winter in 40 years. They said we had 50% less sunshine this winter. I'd believe that with the overcast skies every day whether it snowed or not/rained or not. Morning, noon, and evening, when one looked up into the sky nothing but dreary gray.
SAD is seasonal affective disorder. This is the feeling of depression, mild or severe, when there is not enough sunshine present. This lack of sunshine disrupts the body clock and can drop the level of certain "feel good" chemicals in the body. This is a real condition that affects many people in the northern regions where there is a big difference in the daylight hours in the winter seasons. This was a tough season for those affected by SAD this year. I know my body jumped for joy over seeing sunshine this month for the few days that we had it.