Quarky00
Enlightened
- Dec 17, 2019
- 1,956
People here have serious conditions, but understanding 'Spring Down' could be helpful:
(This post does not deal with SAD or Insomnia)
What is it
Circadian Clock
There's much more to it then just post-winter serotonin levels or temperature changes, and this is where circadian clock enters. It will often go crazy during autumn and spring, and its effects are crucial. I assume many people already have serious conditions like insomnia, anxiety, stress, depression, and of course serious physical ailments and pain -- this makes it worse without really noticing it -- and even wondering: 'it's spring why am I tired?'. The circadian clock controls melatonin and cortisol to an alarming extent.
* Understanding the graphs is not needed -- just get an impression.
Look at those lovely cycles, now imagine the cycles interrupted by your stress , insomnia , and now -- a 4 hour shift in sunlight.
This is a simplification , it's more delicate with small peaks and slopes along the way, slightly adjusting things in body:
Its behaviour changes over years , but as is often the case -- we can learn about systematic effects (of a stressed body) by looking at changes the elderly experience, and when these systems do not work 'perfectly'. In short, changes are significant:
I can only assume that with chronic pain, depression, anxiety, stress, irritation, anger or insomnia -- the graphs would be even more hectic. Note this also applies to 'anger' or 'frustration' which are considered "stress reactions" ; they change cortisol and screw up the system. This is crucial since it affects almost every cell and organ/system:
That should give some insight into how insomnia can really destroy your body and mind (out of scope). While Winter is the perfect time for flu and depression -- during Spring and Autumn people are much more prone to general continuous unexplained weaknesses and auto immune response. Be aware of that.
Note 1 -- Light
Sunlight is sunlight. Limited daylight is harmful, but even a cloudy day (not stormy) has some daylight which our body senses, even if we don't.
We all heard about the recent years crazes of "blue screens", calls to avoid TV/smartphones before bedtime. It is a bit of a hype but based on some interesting findings. Without entering SAD territory, specially-designed lights addressing the right wavelengths are beneficial to depression. The circadian input is beyond just our perception of vision, colour, or light. It's not just "blue light" per se but the wavelengths our body senses and absorbs (which we don't necessarily 'see' or even feel).
Light Spectrums Associated with Vision and Circadian Timekeeping (Brainard, G.C. 2009). What is perceived as "white light" from the sun is actually comprised of the full spectrum of colors. Circadian reception occurs primarily in the blue-green range (446-477 nm, Brainard, 2001). LED sources of mixed RGB and white LEDs allow for dynamic control of color (DOE, 2013). Compared with either electric filament (incandescent) or gas lamps (fluorescent, metal halide), LEDs have the potential to closely match the full spectrum because they are controllable.
Sunrise and sunset light wavelengths differ slightly:
This is interesting since sunset or sunrise photographs cannot be distinguished (unless one is familiar with the terrain). But our circadian clock gets it. It appears to process those gradual changes :
Darkness --> Warm (awakeness) ... Warm --> Darkness (sleepiness)
As the system as a whole deteriorates over time , which is the case for many of us , it takes time and effort to sync it back. It does not happen within a day. This does not really address insomnia since insomnia is considered a more severe condition, rather than a mere 'circadian sync malfunction'. But these issues appear to contribute or add on to depression and related conditions.
Notice that I'm not referring to the cliches of:
Note 2 -- Allergy
Seasonal allergy, hay fever, or allergic rhinitis are mostly attributed to pollen in the air but the symptoms can also occur if one is not clinically allergic to pollen, and indeed they can occur at sub-clinical levels ('tired and sore' ). It can occur in Winter or Summer as well. It's not just pollen but living around irritants, like mild amounts of dust and mold over time, or air pollution, which all irritate the lungs and the immune system. This should not be alarming to most as I'm referring to 'normal amounts', though members here have became severely ill and incapacitated due to serious mold attack; that's a different story. Otherwise there is no need to bleach the house, and pollution can come from the environment as well, or just being indoors for lengthy periods of time. It happens.
So seasonal allergy does not always require a particular, specific, single trigger (allergen) -- but a combination of stressed out body, pollution, circadian changes, etc. Environmental changes (relocating or being closed inside) and becoming sensitive to circadian and seasonal changes can also make the system react. And you may not be aware of it because you're 'just tired' .
This was just a short primer, expanding on existing Spring Depression article. Take care of yourselves :)
- It affects most people while they're unaware (some experience it seriously)
- Related to increased suicide
(This post does not deal with SAD or Insomnia)
What is it
Circadian Clock
There's much more to it then just post-winter serotonin levels or temperature changes, and this is where circadian clock enters. It will often go crazy during autumn and spring, and its effects are crucial. I assume many people already have serious conditions like insomnia, anxiety, stress, depression, and of course serious physical ailments and pain -- this makes it worse without really noticing it -- and even wondering: 'it's spring why am I tired?'. The circadian clock controls melatonin and cortisol to an alarming extent.
* Understanding the graphs is not needed -- just get an impression.
Look at those lovely cycles, now imagine the cycles interrupted by your stress , insomnia , and now -- a 4 hour shift in sunlight.
This is a simplification , it's more delicate with small peaks and slopes along the way, slightly adjusting things in body:
Its behaviour changes over years , but as is often the case -- we can learn about systematic effects (of a stressed body) by looking at changes the elderly experience, and when these systems do not work 'perfectly'. In short, changes are significant:
I can only assume that with chronic pain, depression, anxiety, stress, irritation, anger or insomnia -- the graphs would be even more hectic. Note this also applies to 'anger' or 'frustration' which are considered "stress reactions" ; they change cortisol and screw up the system. This is crucial since it affects almost every cell and organ/system:
That should give some insight into how insomnia can really destroy your body and mind (out of scope). While Winter is the perfect time for flu and depression -- during Spring and Autumn people are much more prone to general continuous unexplained weaknesses and auto immune response. Be aware of that.
Note 1 -- Light
Sunlight is sunlight. Limited daylight is harmful, but even a cloudy day (not stormy) has some daylight which our body senses, even if we don't.
We all heard about the recent years crazes of "blue screens", calls to avoid TV/smartphones before bedtime. It is a bit of a hype but based on some interesting findings. Without entering SAD territory, specially-designed lights addressing the right wavelengths are beneficial to depression. The circadian input is beyond just our perception of vision, colour, or light. It's not just "blue light" per se but the wavelengths our body senses and absorbs (which we don't necessarily 'see' or even feel).
Light Spectrums Associated with Vision and Circadian Timekeeping (Brainard, G.C. 2009). What is perceived as "white light" from the sun is actually comprised of the full spectrum of colors. Circadian reception occurs primarily in the blue-green range (446-477 nm, Brainard, 2001). LED sources of mixed RGB and white LEDs allow for dynamic control of color (DOE, 2013). Compared with either electric filament (incandescent) or gas lamps (fluorescent, metal halide), LEDs have the potential to closely match the full spectrum because they are controllable.
Sunrise and sunset light wavelengths differ slightly:
This is interesting since sunset or sunrise photographs cannot be distinguished (unless one is familiar with the terrain). But our circadian clock gets it. It appears to process those gradual changes :
Darkness --> Warm (awakeness) ... Warm --> Darkness (sleepiness)
As the system as a whole deteriorates over time , which is the case for many of us , it takes time and effort to sync it back. It does not happen within a day. This does not really address insomnia since insomnia is considered a more severe condition, rather than a mere 'circadian sync malfunction'. But these issues appear to contribute or add on to depression and related conditions.
Notice that I'm not referring to the cliches of:
- "Be careful of Blue Light"
- "Go out to the sun"
Note 2 -- Allergy
Seasonal allergy, hay fever, or allergic rhinitis are mostly attributed to pollen in the air but the symptoms can also occur if one is not clinically allergic to pollen, and indeed they can occur at sub-clinical levels ('tired and sore' ). It can occur in Winter or Summer as well. It's not just pollen but living around irritants, like mild amounts of dust and mold over time, or air pollution, which all irritate the lungs and the immune system. This should not be alarming to most as I'm referring to 'normal amounts', though members here have became severely ill and incapacitated due to serious mold attack; that's a different story. Otherwise there is no need to bleach the house, and pollution can come from the environment as well, or just being indoors for lengthy periods of time. It happens.
So seasonal allergy does not always require a particular, specific, single trigger (allergen) -- but a combination of stressed out body, pollution, circadian changes, etc. Environmental changes (relocating or being closed inside) and becoming sensitive to circadian and seasonal changes can also make the system react. And you may not be aware of it because you're 'just tired' .
This was just a short primer, expanding on existing Spring Depression article. Take care of yourselves :)
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