Let There be Light
By Mary Ann Copson “It is the discouraging veil of darkness, falling over the
sparkling whiteness of earlier nights, which sends a vein of
despair running through our souls.”
- Dr. Frederick Cook As days grow shorter in the winter and light becomes less
available and less intense your hypothalamus responds by
shifting your body rhythms into those resembling
hibernation. You may feel an increased need for
carbohydrates, contracted energy, diminished sex drive,
lower motivation, more sluggishness and, in some cases,
feelings of depression. For those living in darker, more
northern exposures this shift in body rhythms can even go
so far as to resemble clinical depression. This shifting in body rhythms is known as Seasonal Affective
Disorder (SAD). The negative effects of SAD can be
experienced from November through March with February
and March often being the peak months for experiencing
symptoms. Purposeful exposure to sunlight, full spectrum
indoor lighting and a light box have all been shown effective
in easing the body through this seasonal change. Dawn
simulation, however, might be even more effective than
simple light exposure. Our body clock is set to respond to the first light of dawn and
is wired to awaken our body through stimulation by the
sunrise. Even behind closed eyelids, your eyes are
sensitive enough to receive the first light signals of dawn.
These sunrise signals register with your hypothalamus and
tell your body to transition out of dreaming. They raise your
body temperature and cortisol levels getting your primed to
engage with your day. As the sun continues to rise, higher light intensity stimulates
our neural activity to progressively shift from sleep to full
awakening. This is naturally a gradual timed progression
from sleep to arousal - a little different than blasting yourself
out of slumber with the shrill of an alarm clock. Dawn simulators are devices that mimic the progressive
lighting of a sunrise and gradually wake you following the
body’s natural patterns. As you reconnect to the natural
rhythms of the body using a dawn simulator mimicing the
natural sunrise, you may experience benefits such as
clearer thinking, more positive moods, increased energy,
and feeling more rested in the morning - and be less SAD.
Dawn simulators are available in many retail stores, health
food stores, online and through catalogues. (Or you could install a skylight over your bed - my personal
solution.) “Let there be light.”
-Book of Genesis Mary Ann Copson is the creator of the Evenstar
Mood and Energy Management System for Women.
With Master’s Degrees in Human Development and in
Psychology and Counseling, Mary Ann is a Certified
Licensed Nutritionist, a Certified Holistic Health
Practitioner, a Brain Chemistry Profile Clinician, a
Professional Life Coach and Human Development
Consultant. For resources about reconnecting to your
natural rhythms through better management of your
physical, emotional, mental, psychological and spiritual
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