With grumpy Old Man winter finally releasing his cold grip on the land and hibernating for the spring and summer, it’s time to get out there and enjoy the warm weather. This is especially true for people that suffer from seasonal affective disorder, also known as SAD.
According to research statistics, between 4% and 6% of Americans experience the effects of seasonal affective disorder, which can include mild depression, a sense of lethargy or a lack of energy, joint pain, headaches, and an overall sense of heaviness in both mind and body. Though anyone can experience the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder, you’re more likely to experience it if you live in an area of the United States that has especially long, dark, and harsh winters, such as in the Northeast.
So what is seasonal affective disorder and what causes it? Seasonal affective disorder is a form of depression that can occur slightly before and during the onset of winter. Symptoms can even persist well into spring, as the body tries to readjust to longer days and warmer weather. Seasonal affective disorder effects everyone differently, but it’s thought to be caused by a lack of sunlight as well as harsh winter weather.
Like most forms of mental illness, seasonal affective disorder is often written off as not being a legitimate illness or disease, when it actuality, it can have some potentially serious consequences if left untreated. Many people who suffer from seasonal affective disorder are reluctant to take mood stabilizing drug such as prescription anti-depressants, however, these medications have proven effective in treating the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder. This reluctance is often due to side effects of these medications, which in many cases, are can be worse than the condition itself.
Some people choose to treat their seasonal affective disorder via more natural means by smoking marijuana as opposed to taking prescription antidepressants. Despite the negative stereotype and stigmas surrounding it, medical marijuana has a slew of benefits and has been proven effective in treating some mental health disorders such as the depression, anxiety, and body aches that go along with seasonal affective disorder. Marijuana has been used as a medicinal treatment for a variety of physical and mental health issues for centuries. The ancient Chinese considered it a fundamental healing plant and herb in their traditional medicinal system, which is a widely respected system for healing. Many medical professionals borrow elements from traditional Chinese medicine to heal their patients.
Taking the idea of using more natural methods to address and treat the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder, many people are taking up nature or wildlife therapy as a means of combating depression and anxiety disorders. Nature and wildlife therapy includes visiting local camping sites, especially sunny campgrounds during summer camping trips, as a way of immersing oneself in nature in order to heal. Visiting local camping sites and taking sun filled camping vacations has been proven to be extremely therapeutic and effective in helping people to manage or even overcome the symptoms of depression and seasonal affective disorder.
Clinical research studies have shown that going to sunny local campgrounds can literally help to recharge your batteries and alleviate symptoms of depression. After all, sunshine is nature’s best source of vitamin D, and can help you to feel energized. Similarly, lakeside campgrounds at local camping sites can also be extremely therapeutic, as many people find the sound of moving water to be incredibly soothing.
Getting out in nature at local camping sites can help to remove yourself from the chaos of everyday life and return to more a natural state of living, albeit temporarily. This break from electronics, people, noise, pollution, and work can be just what the doctor ordered in terms of treating your system. Nature and wildlife counseling therapy sessions are local camping sites allow people to get back in touch with a part of themselves that they may have forgotten about a long time ago. Many people feel calmer, and more at peace after visiting a local camping sites. You can too!
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