Photos: Red-tailed Hawk at dusk; forest glow & sunset with ducks on Lake Washington
Greetings from the dark side of the planet. Here in the Northern Hemisphere during the winter months our sun is often a faint white light low on the horizon. It barely emits light, let alone heat. Come December 22, the Equinox, the sun will be directly above the Tropic of Capricorn at 12 noon. This means the sun will be directly overhead at noon in places like Argentina, South Africa and Australia. Meanwhile, here in the North Country, we will experience low angle lighting, dim at times, which combined with clouds and storm events can make for gloomy conditions.
Do these gloomy conditions affect our moods? Absolutely. The appropriately named Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) results from low light conditions and is discussed at length by Dr. Norman Rosenthal in his book Winter Blues. My brother-in-law, Dr. Howard Cohen, briefly explained how SAD works: “Light comes into the eyes through the optic nerve which tracks to the Hypothalamus which has much to do with emotions. The Hypothalamus, located in our brain, connects the nervous system to the endocrine system via the Pituitary gland. When there is not enough light, we become depressed, irritable, tired and hungry.” Sound familiar?
Those of us who live north of the Tropic of Cancer in places like the United States, Canada, Europe, the former Soviet Republic and China are most susceptible to SAD. The farther north you live from the equator, the more likely you are to experience SAD. Light therapy is one of the key antidotes to SAD according to Dr. Rosenthal. Going outside in ambient light can make a big difference. Dr. Cohen, a psychiatrist, recommends this to his patients “all the time.”
Looking at birds results in looking at the sky, which in turn, results in gathering light. You don’t have to go anywhere special; your back yard or local park will do. If you have coastal areas, prairies, meadows or wetlands nearby, so much the better. You will experience nature, gather light and obtain exercise and fresh air — four uplifting sensations combined. My dermatologist reminds us that even in winter and especially at high elevation, wear sun screen and a hat.
Consider participating in an Audubon-sponsored Christmas bird count at this time of year http://birds.audubon.org/christmas-bird-count. These one-day counts are offered in virtually every part of the United States between December 14, 2012 and January 5, 2013. I will be leading one here in Seattle on December 29th. They are a great way to meet people, learn about birds, see beautiful country, and gather light.
In the meantime, have a Happy Holiday season and a happy, light-infused Hypothalamus!
Tips on coping with SAD: http://www.normanrosenthal.com/blog/2012/01/how-to-beat-seasonal-affective-disorder-winter-blues-infographic/
