Sean Banville BLT for SAD - January 15, 2005 Lyrics

Short and dark days can cause a medical condition known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Doctors are increasingly telling their patients about this problem in countries that have depressing weather. One of the most famous places for gray skies that rain cats and dogs is London. A new cafe has opened there that offers visitors 20-minute breaks from the wintertime blues. People who want to lift their spirits can visit the newly opened Dana Cafe at the Science Museum for some Bright Light Therapy (BLT). The cafe has a Light Lounge, where the light is five times brighter than regular house lights.
Over five million people suffer from SAD during winter in the UK. It is common knowledge that people in colder countries feel more miserable. This is because of a chemical imbalance in the part of the brain that controls our moods. A lack of the chemical serotonin, which the body receives from sunlight, can lead to many different symptoms. Low serotonin levels can trigger depression, anxiety, lethargy, sleep problems, overeating and a loss of s__ drive. Eighty percent of SAD cases can be treated with a BLT session. Dana Cafe's Light Lounge is fully booked until March.