Does the Sun Help With Depression

The sun is essential to our overall good health. It helps provide Vitamin D and helps to enhance our physical and mental health. No living organism can exist without the sun and it is wonder that the sun has such a profound effect on individuals mood.

Benefits of the sun

• Many people suffer from the debilitating effects of depression. They can experience episodes of hopelessness, inability to function at work and often struggle with intimate relationships. People who are living with depression are also isolated from the rest of the world and find it difficult to interact in social situations. There are many medications that are available to treat depression however, people often find these medications difficult to take due to the negative side effects.

  Think about how you feel on a bright sunny day, basting in the sun. These feelings come from the suns direct impact on our moods. The sun helps to regulate our moods and increases levels of Serotonin and Dopamine which are neurotransmitters that regulate how we feel.

  When the mood chemicals in our brain are low then we are more prone to depression and episodes of feeling blue. According to the web site Alternative Depression Therapy, the sun is our main source of Vitamin D3 which is a type of Vitamin D that is derived from sunlight. Spending time basting in the sunlight helps to increase levels of Dopamine and Serotonin. individuals who are exposed to direct sunlight for at least 20 minutes per day present with increased mood and higher levels of energy.

  According to the web site Alternative Depression Therapy, spending time in direct sunlight early in the day offers the most benefits and will help to decrease any episodes of skin damage. If you do spend time in the sun later in the day be sure to limit your time to 10 to 15 minutes.