The months February, March and April for some people are the hardest months of the year. They feel lethargic, suffer from tiredness, colds or flu and sometimes feel depressed. We even have a word for it – spring fatigue.
Out of Africa: hibernation
From our distant past we can fatigue in spring. Our distant ancestors lived with the rhythm of day and night. The ancestors who are relatively early in the history migrated away from Africa, slept during the long dark northern nights long and hard, sometimes more than 12 hours. Actually they had a kind of hibernation. Nowadays we do not really winter anymore. Because we have an eternal summer with long days and artificial short nights are created. It is not inconceivable that some people miss the ancient hibernation in the spring and the form presented as spring fatigue.
Fatigue: sunlight is beneficial
Descendants of ancestors who stayed longer in Africa in northern winters will get far too little sunlight. This is at the end of winter in the vitamin D supply is low and then we are susceptible, even a little depressed and tired. Sunlight not only provides vitamin D, stimulates serotonin, it kills harmful bacteria and various diseases and fatigue. It is our cheapest drug.
Sleep, sunlight and vitamin D as a cure for fatigue
Because we do not know exactly what our ancestors have been the remedy for fatigue in spring:
- As much as possible in the sun without burning
- vitamin D sufficient nourishment until there is a UV index
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It used to be that eating disorders weren�t considered medically serious issues and were often swept under the rug because they could be socially awkward; because of this tendency to downplay anorexia, bulimia, binge eating and other issues, Eating Disorder Treatments were often second rate or afterthoughts. Generations of people, primarily women, suffered behind closed doors with these disorders that sometimes ended in death. Pop music icon Karen Carpenter became a poster child for how devastating anorexia could be; the popular singer passed away in 1983 due to complications from anorexia nervosa. The medical establishment now has a much better understanding of the consequences of eating disorders and resources have begun to be directed toward research into underlying causes as well as treatment options. Facilities are in place that employs state of the art programs in their Anorexia Treatment, including holistic options and supervision by Physicians, Therapists and Clinical Nutritionists.
