Health & Healing
Keeping your Spirits Bright After the Holidays
By Laurie De Decker (Jan, 2015) As I sit here writing on the eve of the winter solstice, I’m reminded of how dreary Michigan winters can be. Lake Michigan moderates our winter temperatures bringing gray cloudy days. These short, bleak days can trigger moodiness, carbohydrate cravings, weight gain, and the urge to hibernate. This change in moods happens anywhere with a lack of sunshine during the winter. Combine this change with the post-holiday letdown and winter can feel like a real drag. The further north you live, the greater the risk of the winter blues, or ‘seasonal affective disorder’ (SAD). SAD is believed to occur because of a lack of sunlight, alterations in the body’s internal clock, and a disturbance in melatonin and serotonin production. (Melatonin helps regulate our sleep/awake cycle. The disruption makes us feel sleepy and lethargic in the winter.
Star Nations Magazine • January 2021 • 16
