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There are some people who feel that the main cause of depression is a disruption of the body’s circadian rhythms. Some believe that our body clocks no longer run our bodies. We wake because our clock radios or cell phone alarms tell us to, not because the sun has come up. We sleep because we have accomplished what we want for the day, not because the sun has set. We work indoors instead of spending our time outside where we, as humans, began. Due to this arrhythmia, our bodies are not aligned right– this unbalances the levels of hormones, neurotransmitters and other chemicals that form our moods. When these hormones are out of balance a person will suffer from Circadian Rhythm Disorder (CRD).

Researchers have studied CRD for a while. They generally agree that those who suffer from some types of depression can be made to feel better by making some lifestyle changes that will enhance their mood and lift their spirits. A well-balanced lifestyle that includes sunlight, sufficient sleep and good food will give a person a lot of energy and put them in a good mood. The ability to correct this disorder gives the sufferer the potential outlook of a healthy, happy person.

Circadian rhythms are what the body uses to manage appetite, vigor, rest, sexual arousal, and mood. So, when the body’s rhythm is out of kilter, a person suffers mood disorders and depression. The good thing is that this is a known issue: continued research has shown how to put the body back in balance. Studies have proven that realigning the circadian rhythms of the body can reduce away depression.

The study of the body’s circadian rhythms has been around since the nineteenth century. As more evidence of the importance of the body’s natural clock became apparent in the 1960’s, study intensified. The science that studies circadian rhythms this is called chronobiology.

Studies show that when the body is out of balance it can cause depression, and disorders of mood, sleep, and eating. By the 1980’s, continuing research demonstrated that without a balance of light and dark, the hormones and natural body chemicals were not released properly and so were confusing the body’s signals.

The outcome of this research is light therapy, which has proven to have good results. People need more exposure to natural sunlight. We had this exposure in the past, before we built houses that blocked out natural light. Humans require more than can be given in the minutes between leaving the house and getting into the car.

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Scott Meyers is a staff writer for It’s Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit. You may contact our writers through the web site. Follow this link for more information on Depression.

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Tags: circadian rhythms, Depression, natural clock