The One Hour Shuffle
- Nov 2, 2016
- 2 min read
Watch this Daylight Saving: Movie Trailer....hysterical!
And, the One Hour Shuffle...did you think this was about some crazy thing I do during my one hour massages? Haha. It is not :)
The dreaded Daylight Savings time is drawing near....where all of our internal clocks get jarred and have to re-set. Every year, I have a friend in Arkansas who posts daily countdowns until we spring forward. And, I can never bring myself to look at it until after Christmas. So, what is happening to our bodies with this Circadian change?? Why do we feel a bit drugged when our lives have only changed by one hour? And how can we go through the process easier this time?
Circadian rhythms control release of certain hormones that can affect moods, hunger levels, and yearning for more sleep. For some people, this one hour shuffle can cause debilitating pain like cluster headaches that gather on one particular side. My mom was terrified when she saw me experience these headaches once. It felt like a lightning bolt went through my head and left as quickly as it came.
According to a New York Times article, research strongly points to the hypothalamus, located in your brain. It is involved with the regulation of nerve pathways and important chemicals. Specifically in these ways: nerve clusters that regulate the body's biologic rhythms (aka Circadian rhythms); neurotransmitters involved with appetite; stress hormones (aka Cortisol); melatonin, a hormone related to the body's response to light and dark; and substances that modulate pain. Sounds like this part of our brain is key to these biannual festivities ;)
Additionally to our Circadian changes, we have the bummer of less daylight and we are all subjected to possibly gaining the ironic condition called SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). Studies report that a half a million Americans suffer from SAD, including moi. This year, I am trying a salt cave. I plan to use 3 monthly sessions after Christmas. Salt cave-goers believe that inhaling minerals and trace elements can help a variety of issues including mood changes, sleep disorders, and fatigue. I will keep you posted with this journey!
Being in tune with our bodies is the key in surviving the wintertime. So, let's battle it better this go around!
If your symptoms become regular, don't hesitate to seek treatment immediately. Keeping a journal of mood and sleep can help physicians with their diagnosis.
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