We’ve all had days when we wake up in a fog and can’t shake the grogginess. On days like these, you may have tried coffee or energy drinks to get by, but these are short-term solutions that often cause you to crash when the effects wear off.
The risks of excessive daytime sleepiness and fatigue:
- Increased risk of car and work accidents
- Decreased work or academic productivity
- Worse quality of life
- Issues regulating mood
If you suffer from excessive daytime sleepiness and a daily lack of energy, you need to treat the root problem: a lack of serotonin.
How else is low serotonin affecting you?
It is likely that your struggles with daytime sleepiness and lack of productivity are tied to low levels of serotonin. In addition to these issues, a lack of serotonin can also cause the following:
Light therapy can help you be happier and more productive
Most people who go to the doctor describing the above symptoms are prescribed antidepressants. While antidepressants are a solution to low serotonin levels, they can have some nasty side effects and are often prescribed to people who have no real medical condition.
Humans have historically not only survived, but thrived, due to the benefits of sunlight. In recent decades, the rise of sedentary office jobs and technological advancements have kept us indoors more than ever. Because of this, many people have a circadian rhythm that’s out of sync.
Our circadian rhythm is what tells our body to produce serotonin when we’re exposed to early morning light. It’s also what tells our body to produce melatonin when the sun goes down at night. If we’re not exposing ourselves to sunlight at the correct time of day, we will have tired, unproductive days and sleepless, restless nights.
How light therapy works
