Are You Feeling SAD? Winter Blues Settled in for a Visit?

Are You Feeling SAD? Winter Blues Settled in for a Visit

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Have the winter blues descended? Feeling fat and lazy with no interest in work, activities or friends? You may be suffering from seasonal affective disorder or SAD. This is a form of depression that occurs in relation to the seasons and is most common in the winter. Symptoms include decreased energy, lack of interest in work, activities or friends, increased appetite, craving carbohydrates, weight gain, increased sleep and afternoon drowsiness, a withdrawal from social activities and lethargy.

The cause isn't completely understood but it is much more prevalent in the northern United States in winter than in Florida or the other southern states. It is thought that a lack of sunlight in northern regions contributes to the disorder. Near the Canadian border the sun doesn't rise until 8 am and sets shortly after 4 pm in December and January. For most people, that means they rarely see the sun, especially in areas with low cloud ceilings much of the time.

What are the treatments? If symptoms are severe, as with any form of depression, see your doctor. He can help with medication and other treatments. If you have some of the symptoms, or all but not severely, there are several things that may help you to feel better. First of all, watch what you eat. If you are craving carbohydrates, you will soon gain weight, which can worsen the depression. This can begin a downward spiral that is difficult to break. Avoid those extra carbs and reach for healthy foods, instead. Drink plenty of water. It is easy to get dehydrated in the winter and this can cause you to feel sluggish. Exercise, exercise, exercise. And did I mention that you should exercise? Three or four times a week, get your heart rate up and sweat a little for at least 20 minutes. This helps release those feel-good chemicals that lift your mood and it also helps to regulate your appetite and sleep cycle. Getting started may be difficult but will be worth the effort.

Light therapy is another treatment that has been beneficial for many people. There are many different types of lights available that will help meet the need. Depending on the severity of symptoms a regular sun lamp with a bright white bulb may be adequate. There are many different types of light that are made just for treatment of SAD. The idea is to spend time in front of the light so it is shining in your eyes. If you regularly spend time at a desk or at a computer, you can position the light to benefit you while you work.

Begin fighting the effects of SAD before your symptoms get severe and it will be much easier to dispel the winter blues and feel better again. But, even if you are feeling really blue, don't wait for the sun to come out. Go see your doctor and get some help. You don't want to give up two or three months to feeling SAD.

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