Stress Coping Techniques – Let the Sunlight In!
Stress coping techniques don’t have to be complicated or costly. Sometimes it’s as simple as sitting in the sunlight. Did you realize that the power of the sun can make a difference in your mental and physical well being, as well? In fact, the sun contains such wonderful therapeutic and healing agents that it has a name - Phototherapy.
Many people who live in cold weather climates with minimal daylight hours tend to be particularly at risk for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). This condition comes about due to a deficit of full spectrum sunlight and because of this fact, supplemental full spectrum light
Most of us don’t have the luxury of winter home in the Caribbean, so it’s sometimes necessary to make use of therapeutic tools such as full spectrum light bulbs
Surprisingly, some people may even suffer from SAD in the middle of summer! It’s not because there’s no sunlight outside, but because they spend too much time indoors exposed to fluorescent office lights. Typically, these people work all day and then go home at dark. The next morning, they leave for work before the sun rises and consequently have little to no contact with the warmth and light of the sun.
It would be a good idea to make some schedule changes to that allows for a little “fun in the sun”. Did you know that your skin actually needs to soak in sunlight each day? Your goal is not to get a deep dark tan, but to get sunlight and the vitally essential vitamin D that the sun provides.
All it takes is 15-20 minutes a day of sunlight on bare skin (no sunscreen allowed) to give your brain the needed boost it needs—as well your body the vitamin D it needs. Studies have recently shown that sunlight provides the most effective and absorbable form of vitamin D available–and vitamin D has been shown to cut the risk of many types of cancer in half!
It’s been estimated by medical experts that over 70 percent of Americans are deficient in vitamin D. No wonder cancer has surpassed heart disease and the #1 killer in America.
At the spa, you may hear the term heliotherapy. This is based on a medically therapeutic exposure to light that simulates sunlight. While ultraviolet light isn’t as curative as natural sunlight, it can help with treatment of various skin disorders like eczema, psoriasis and acne.
If you’re unable to spend time in the sun on a regular basis due to your schedule or perhaps due to the season or area of the country in which you live, vitamin D supplementsare also effective in getting your vitamin D levels up where they should be. Health professionals have increased the recommended daily allowance of vitamin D from approximately 400 units to 4,000 units per day.
Still, nothing beats the real thing. Exposing your body to healing light from the sun helps alleviate the stress that accumulates over time and may actually help prevent stress before it becomes a problem.
A slight change of habits makes it relatively simple to get the sunlight you need. Try to eat your lunch outside in the sunshine as often as you can, if at all possible. Or, take a break from work during the afternoon and take a quick 15 minute walk in the sunshine.
Instead of parking as close as possible to the grocery store or office, park at the far end of the lot and walk. If you take public transportation, get off a few blocks from your usual stop and walk.
Spend time outdoors with your children. They’ll love this quality time with you and it’ll also give them a healthy dose of the vitamin D they need.
Consider participating in an outdoor sport. Tennis, golf, walking or running give you exercise, as well as provide time outdoors in the sunshine and fresh air.
Make the effort to schedule time in the great outdoors until it becomes a habit. As you begin enjoying spending time outdoors and begin to reap the benefits of this particular stress coping technique, you’ll actually crave your daily dose of sunlight.
Recommendation:
- Lithium Orotate is an all natural supplement (unlike prescription synthetic lithium prescribed by doctors) that has proven very effective for taking the edge off of chronic stress and anxiety. I have personally used it for the past couple of years and find it very helpful in lifting the stress and lightening my mood. It does not cause any drowsiness or foggy thinking at all–in fact it seems to sharpen my mind and give clarity of thought. Highly recommended!
- Conquering Stress is an incredibly helpful guide to managing stress, anxiety and depression naturally without making major “life changes” or taking prescription antidepressants. It’s very well thought out and has helped a lot of people gain control of chronic stress in their lives.
Take the time to educate yourself and make a serious plan to take control of your mental, emotional and physical health by kicking stress, anxiety and depression out of your life quickly and permanently! Click Here!
Warning: If you are currently on prescription anti-depressants, you must work with your doctor to safely discontinue use, if desired. Do not abruptly discontinue use of such medications as this could cause severe withdrawal effects.
