Sunlight for Depression

[Surrender]

Looking through this forum I was just thinking how I really am not depressed (despite a number of things going on in my life that should make me miserable). Anyways I realized it is summer, and I have spent the last 3 months outside in the sunshine, at parks and playgrounds. Has anyone else noticed they are less depressed in the summer?


When I was younger I used to go to tanning booths in the winter (yeah, bad idea, now I know) but I always felt it gave me a jolt of energy afterwards. I remember a few years ago I was looking to purchase a special sunlight simulating lamp to use in the winter months, but couldn't find an affordable one. Have any of you tried one?


Do you notice there is a link between the state of your depression and how much sunlight you are getting?

 

[kgord]

Yes, I think the sun is important, that is partly why people go to places like Florida, and those in Norther climes often suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder and need to have the bright lights so that they can function. This is simply one of the things that is important in terms of feeling good I think. I am not sure if it is sunlight itself, or the Vitamin D. I think basically it is the light we get from the sun, that helps to regulate our mood.

 

[lexinonomous]

A high school teacher of mine suggested sunlight to me as a means of making myself feel better. He suggested that I needed to get more sun and spend less of my time indoors. He had overheard a conversation between a friend and I, so he thought it was the best course of action (since teachers can't exactly suggest medication.) I made the move to get more sunlight and spend a bit of time outside. I hate the outdoors, but it really did help balance my mood. I was less agitated and more driven to do things throughout the day. I even grew to love the outdoors for a short period of time.


There is definitely a link between the state of my depression and how much sunlight I'm getting. The sun gives you Vitamin D, which is the BEST way to receive it.  :smile:

 

[kimmie216]

I used to have an office that was in the center of the building and had four cement walls. I didn't realize the effect that this had on me until years later when our building underwent a massive renovation and my office was moved. I now have an office on the side of the building with a fairly large window. The sunlight that comes in is amazing. I find that this light helps me with feeling more relaxed and I don't feel as though I am dragging. I live in New England and the winter months are brutal for me. I have one of the special lights and I pull it out to use every now and again. I don't think that I have used it consistently enough to notice a difference, but I like that it provides another tool that I can use. I wish that my husband would use it!  :wink:

 

[fuzyon]

I wouldn't really say I'm less depressed throughout the summer but the sunlight definitely helps make me feel more relaxed. As much as I love the winter holidays and the "warmth" they bring to everyone (I'm the most comfortable around that time) nothing compares to the summer vibe. I always try to go to the beach when summer comes around because it's the most relaxing place in the world for me, going for a swim and walking around the beach feels amazing.

 

[cluckeyo]

Rather than noticing things being better in the sunshine, I can more readily notice how it feels on a dreary day. Cloudy, rainy, humid. I definitely prefer sunshine over that kind of day. The thing about Texas is that often it is tooooo hot when the sun is shining. And my least favorite month of the year is August for that reason. I usually hold up the entire month of August and don't even go out. Stock ahead on groceries and everything. And this year our AC's weren't working good either. So guess it depends on the situation. Under normal conditions I would say that sunshine makes me feel good.

 

[HappyKoi]

Sunlight is pretty good, especially for people with SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). In winter, if it's really snowy or rainy, it can be hard to get outside to exercise or socialize. Sometimes it does get too hot out here in California, too, but it's nice to live fairly near the beach. Cloudy and rainy days can be nice, but yes, it is good to get out in the sunshine.

 

[redpanda]

Someone else mentioned Seasonal Affective Disorder and I would look into it. Many people have depression that's linked to the amount of sunlight. There are even forms of therapy based around replicating sunlight :smile: . For me, it's not so much sunlight but fresh air. Fresh air tends to improve my mood, even if just slightly, when I'm depressed or anxious. Don't underestimate the power of exercise, too! Even a leisurely walk around a park can help a ton.

 

[Zeesi]

I really enjoy the fall and winter, but I have grown to realize just fairly recently that sunshiny, nice weather really improves my mood. I have found that if I feel really lethargic and uninspired to do things that need to be done, all I need to do is go out into the sunshine for awhile and my mood improves.


I work from home, and keep my curtains closed for most of the day so that the sun doesn't get too bright inside my house. It was recently when I was out and about running errands that I realized that I was feeling quite a bit more energy to do my work after I came back home. The sunlight had energized me, the way it energizes most other life forms on the planet, lol.


I don't know why I didn't realize this earlier, I've heard about SAD for many years, but never paid any real attention to it. These days when I feel sluggish, I know that a dose of sunlight is in order.

 

[janemariesayed]

Yes, I do think that there is a link between sunlight and some forms of depression. It may be the vitamin D exposure or it may be that sunlight cleanses the aura of negativity as does salt. I always feel a bit better after a swim in the sea and a sunbathe, or even just a walk out in the sunshine and fresh air.

 

[Claraviolet]

Well, depressing thoughts usually occur during the night time. I don't know the reason why but it's a fact. When the whether is cloudy or when it is dark, we experience so much stuff that can't be explained in words. I don't know how sunlight even helps the depression but in a strange way it does. Not just sunlight, music also helps. Oh, not depressing music of course. Anything upbeat with good lyrics would help us quite a bit.

 

[kelden]

We humans need sunlight in fact, I remember reading about how unhealthy is to spend most of your time under artificial light of LED or any other lamps instead of working exposed to natural sunlight. But I don't know how it can affect your mental health and optimism, so far I don't know anyone that lives under dark and gloomy places. The only populated place I cant think now is London, which is mostly cloudy, and, people are doin' fine there, despite of brexit bigots and british shenanigans.

 

[Panic57]

I do think that sunlight helps improve your mood but for me it's not always a happy day that lifts me up.  I've realized that I like looking out the window to see plants, butterflies, and hummingbirds.  Even if it's not really sunny, the life outside the window cheers me up.  I think that just being holed up in a box or a warehouse of offices without some natural lighting is like being in prison and affects your mindset.   I can work at home in a dark lit room because I have a patio just off my room that has a great view of a hill of flowers and trees.  Plus I can see my neighbor's hummingbird feeder which is a perk for free.  But I do think natural lighting helps improve you mood.

 

[CT422]

I love laying out in the sun, and I have noticed that it does make me happier sometimes, the brutal sunburn I  get usually keeps me out of sunlight, though. For me, it's the warmth more than anything that lifts my mood on sunny days. 

 

[Choochoo]

I read somewhere that a lack of vitamin d which can be derived from sunlight is a cause of depression sometimes. I think there are pills you can take to supplement that if you are indoors a lot or if there is not much sun where you are from. I have been wanting to try out those tablets but for now I just go out and take an afternoon walk once in a while and I have to say it does help a good amount I my depression and anxiety so I would agree that the correlation probably is true. 

 

[DDNatureLover]

Sunlight definitely affects my mood. When I moved back up north, I began suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder. I would have to make a conscious effort to get outside during the long cold winters, and even then, the daytime hours seemed very short, so it was difficult to get enough sunlight. I am back down south now, but after having a few heat strokes, I now tend to stay indoors during the long hot summers. Because of that, i chose to make this room my office, because I spend a lot of time in the office. This room is on the top floor, at the back of the house, which gets the most sun/daylight of all the rooms in the house. I keep sheer curtains on the windows so I can maximize the light, and there's also a balcony off of this room, so in the cooler weather, or even at dusk and dawn in the summers, I can go outside for a bit and get some unfiltered sunlight. 

 

[Alex]

I don't mind dark or gloomy days, but while a sunny day does seem to cheer people up more. I prefer mild temperatures, so when it is too hot, humid or hazy I feel less comfortable. Maybe it's  psychological?  Some people feel SAD exists, but while it may affect some people it's  not something that affects everyone.


I wonder how people in Scandinavia cope as they have less sunlight?

 

[explorerX7]

I believe that the energy that is obtained from the sunlight may help to revitalize you and and eliminate some of the gloom. If you should do some activity in the sunlight, in most instances, literally change your mood from dull to bright.

 

[Padre]

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is very real and it can be pronounced in areas with long, nasty winters.  I live in the Pacific Northwest and have noticed that I am, with few exception, very happy and productive in the summer, but less so in Fall, and really not much in the dead of winter and the long, wet Spring.  One of these days I really want to move to a state where it is sunny almost all the time.

 

[sidney]

No, I actually find myself happier when its cloudy or raining as compared to when it's sunny, because it's not humid and I don't perspire that much. Whatever the weather may be, it does not really affect my disposition at all, with the exception of the heat making me feel hot, so it irritates me.