I don't know about anyone else but I say enough of winter already, I'm ready for spring. Sometimes harbingers of warmer weather show up in the mail box and this past  weeks, after trudging up a snow and ice laden driveway, I found one such "sign of spring" in my mail box. The sign appeared in the form of an annual plant and seed catalogue.   For just a fleeting instant I could feel the warm breeze of spring only to have my hopes dashed as I trudged back up the driveway from the mailbox.
Other than a few sensory impaired friends of mine, I am sure that we are all experiencing the late winter affliction known as "Cabin Fever" these days. 

Once again, off to do my research I ask "Ask.com" to tell me about "Cabin Fever"  only to find what I already knew  "This term is used to simply say, that you are sick of being cooped up inside, and that you want to get out."    Web MD takes it a step further and declares it a form of depression (S.A.D. to be precise) and lists light therapy, exercise, deep breathing and massage as forms of therapy.

For those of you who think you may need some of this therapy let me enlighten you as to why these activities may help and for those of you who don't really think it's a problem, just watch the movie "The Shining" to see what cabin fever can do in its worst-case scenario.

Light therapy. Your mood is partly influenced by sunlight, melatonin, serotonin, and vitamin D.  Melatonin, (sleep hormone) decreases when it is light.  Serotonin (hormone associated with wakefulness and elevated mood) increases when it is light.

Exercise. It induces positive changes in our immune system. Physical activity is a great combatant for depression.  Hibernation is great for bears, not so much for us humans.