Show Wi Winter BI Blues ues n By Bob Denning Its It's hardly a secret that winter is here and with it not only comes and snow and the below zero temperatures temperatures tempera tempera- tures tunes but the old winter blues There is no doubt that the changing seasons have an impact on the human mind It seems as though during the winter life itself has been temporarily suspended The ground is covered with a chilling snow and even the trees appear dead being stripped away of their foliage many animals retreat into hibernation to escape winter 1 It It is no wonder that we a arc rp re influenced by the subtle effects of winter Statistics from the National Institute of Mental Health reveal that the suicide rate is the highest during the winter season and so are cases of acute depression The human libido sex drive is the lowest during the winter months These psychological strains caused by winter are not imagined real It seems that the reduced amount of light cold temperatures the fever cabin-fever syndrome and the ever present white covered ground put real physical strains on the body Some ome people have more adverse affects to to winter than others For people pe with seasonal affective disorders winter can be almost J 1 devastating ng There are arc some tricks to beat these winter blues though The first one is to be aware of these subliminal influences that winter can exert on the consciousness moods and actions Another pr practical way to beat winter stress is by using a technique developed in Russia known as a contrast shower Simply adjust the water in your shower to considerably considerably considerably consider consider- ably warm warm temperature for about w. one minute then turn turn it it if abruptly to cool water not cold for about thirty seconds For those really bothered by winter there is a treatment in which you are placed under eight bright fluorescent ent lights for 2 to 3 hours a aday aday day which helps the body get used to the light factor it has been missing Most important is to remember Spring is just 4 months mo away J I i J fl |