Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Everyone reacts to seasonal changes, mood, metabolism and behavior. We tend to eat and sleep more in winter reacting to the darker mornings and shorter days. Symptoms can be severe enough to cause considerable physiological distress disrupting training and performance.

September until April:
•    Oversleeping am and pm.
•    Overeating - carbohydrate craving leading to weight gain
•    Depression, despair, misery, guilt, anxiety
•    Normal tasks become frustratingly difficult – behaviour
•    Social problems - avoiding company, irritability, loss of libido.
•    Lethargy – excuse not to act or apply
•    Physical symptoms - joint pain and strain – digestive process.

SAD stems from a lack of bright light in winter. Nerve centers in our brain controlling our daily rhythms and moods are stimulated by the amount of light entering the eyes. As night falls, the pineal gland starts to produce a substance called melatonin that tells our body clock it's night time; bright light at daybreak is the signal for the gland to stop producing this melatonin. But on dull winter days, especially indoors, not enough light is received to trigger this waking up process. Light is also linked to serotonin, a neurotransmitter in the brain, low serotonin levels can cause depression making it difficult to concentrate and complete simple tasks.
 
As the cause is lack of bright light, the treatment is to be in bright light every day. Going to a brightly-lit climate, whether that's skiing or somewhere hot, will relieve symptoms but if that's not possible you can use a bright light. The preferred level of light is about as bright as a spring morning on a clear day (2500 lux), which is roughly five times brighter than a well-lit office) and for most people sitting in front of a light like this for around 30 minutes a day will be sufficient to alleviate the symptoms. You don't have to stare at the light, so you can watch TV or read or similar, just make sure that light reaches your eyes.

Check out 
www.lumie.com

Eyes Wide Shut

Over the entire population (at least 1 in 5) a growing efficiency and social problem is upon us due to sleep deprivation. Those who peak in the morning then become sluggish in the afternoon and vice a versa, use natural and unnatural stimulants to pull through it. But in many cases it only delays the real effects.Beware all owls and larks everywhere the sleep police maybe on there way?