Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.)
Ideas For Helping Your Pets Help You
MetPet.com Staff Writer
Seasonal Affective Disorder is a physical and psychological
disorder that usually occurs during the dark winter months. It is sometimes called
winter depression and is characterized by increased appetite, excessive sleep and
lethargy. Excessive rainfall during monsoon season can also create similar effects
on certain individuals. Research indicates that lack of light can cause these
negative mood changes by affecting the levels of chemicals like serotonin, dopamine
and hormones such as melatonin.
It is probably no coincidence that some of civilization's
brightest and most colorful celebrations occur in the dead of winter. Everyone,
whether or not prone to SAD, can use bright lights, colorful gifts and festive gatherings
when it is cold and dark. That stress you feel during the holidays may well have (at
least in part) a physical root.
With the onset of winter and the shortening of daylight hours,
it is easy to begin living like a mole. If you wake up before dawn, spend
all day at work or school and go home after dark, you may spend little or no
time in the sun for months at a stretch. To make matters worse, winter
sunlight is much weaker than summer sun requiring even more time in the sunlight
to achieve the same mood boosting effect.
Lux is a measure of the intensity of light approximately
equal to a single candle. A sunny summer day can provide 100,000 lux, a partially
sunny day can provide 10,000 lux, an overcast day might provide 1,000 lux, the inside of a
house might provide as little as 100 lux. The less light, the more time is required
to benefit from it. Ten minutes in the sun during the summer may equate to 30
minutes during a partially overcast day in the fall to 3 hours outside during an overcast
day in the winter.
If you tend to feel a little lethargic or blue during the
monsoon or winter seasons, try being outside with your pet. Pets can be a great
excuse for bundling up and heading outside during the day. Unless you are playing
parent to moles or earthworms, your pets need the good effects of sunlight also. Why
not keep each other company and have both happy people and pets living inside your home?
Here are some easy, painless suggestions:
-Sit on the patio with Rover the Dog, Fluffy the Cat or
Smiley the Ferret for a half hour twice a day.
Read a magazine, pay your bills, write Xmas cards or wrap gifts.
-Have your coffee, hot chocolate or soup outside instead of in the kitchen
-Walk Rover or follow Fluffy on a leash twice as often and for twice as long as you
normally do
-Go home for lunch and take a walk with your pet instead of eating
-Take a portable lunch like a sandwich and walk while eating
-Play Fling It Fido outside instead of feeding meals
inside
-Get a cordless phone, put your pet on a leash and talk while walking in the yard
-Take your pet outside (even if it's in a warm portable cage or carrier) with you when you
string
lights or winterize the garden
-Take the extra time for a romp on the beach, at the park, in the woods, etc. on weekends
when
you can get some sun
-Walk together to the store or the dog park instead of driving
-Bundle up so you can sit outside the coffee shop or bagel bakery with your pet
-Window shop with your pet and end up at the pet store for biscuits
-Find a frozen skating pond, sled run or other outdoor activity area where pets are
allowed
-Get together with friends for a daily group pet walk or weekly group pet hike
-Throw a holiday party at a park for all your pet friends
The time you spend in the great outdoors with your pets will
more than pay for itself in the long run. It will leave you feeling more energetic
and invigorated. You'll sleep better, be less stressed, be more efficient and will
save time overall!
Please note: any serious depression
or mood changes need to be diagnosed and treated by a medical professional.
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