Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a form of depression that affects roughly five percent of the population. SAD usually develops during the fall and winter months when it is colder and there is less natural light outside, and this is especially true during the cold months here in Minnesota. There are a number of different ways that SAD can be treated, but an emerging technique is light therapy. In today’s blog, we explore how red light therapy can help you overcome symptoms associated with seasonal affective disorder.
Treating SAD
It can be very difficult for Minnesotans to get enough natural sunlight during the cold winter months. If you are working a standard day job, it’s conceivable that you are going to work when the sun is coming up and heading home when the sun has set during the winter months, and believe it or not, this lack of sunlight exposure can have a real impact on your mood and your overall mental health.
If you are feeling fatigued or are taking less pleasure in everyday activities, you should reach out to your primary care physician or a speciality team like the clinicians at HyperCharge Clinic. Mental health issues affect everyone differently, but if you are dealing with seasonal affective disorder, you’ll want to take proactive steps to improve your mental health.
Your care team will likely recommend a few different ways to help combat your seasonal affective disorder, but one technique that pairs well with other treatments is red light therapy. Red light therapy involves exposing a client to a light that is projected at a specific wavelength. This light actually penetrates our skin and ends up affecting our bodies on a cellular level. This natural light is absorbed by our mitochondria, which are the powerhouses of our cells. This light helps to energize the mitochondria, and when your cells have more energy, they can better perform certain tasks. Cellular metabolism increases, inflammation decreases and your cells function more efficiently. These cellular improvements can also help to improve your circadian rhythm and improve your sleep quality, as poor sleep is oftentimes a contributing factor to SAD onset.
Cellular dysfunction is a common contributing factor to SAD onset, but you can improve cellular function through red light therapy. Best of all, red light therapy is not addictive and has fewer side effects than antidepressants, so it can be a very low-risk, high-reward treatment method to consider. We may not have a lot of sunlight in Minnesota during the winter, but that doesn’t mean that you need to deprive your body of the benefits of natural light. Consider connecting with the team at HyperCharge Clinic to see if red light therapy could be an option for you if you find that your mood and your energy levels tend to wane during the colder seasons in Minnesota.
SAD affects millions of people each year, but on an individual level, SAD can leave you feeling isolated and alone. We want to be your ally in your quest to overcome seasonal affective disorder. For more information on how rejuvenation therapy can be exactly what you need, or for a deeper explanation of the benefits of red light therapy, pick up the phone and call the team at HyperCharge Clinic today at (763) 717-8745.