Winter Mood Disorder: Causes And Cures

Winter mood disorder can become a serious dread for people who live in the northern states

. From late fall to early winter, the days become shorter and the amount of available sunlight diminishes. Although the cause of the condition, better known as seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is not completely understood, it appears to have a correlation with diminished sunlight exposure, and those individuals susceptible to SAD are adversely affected by this lack of sunlight. The symptoms of SAD go well beyond simple winter depression or holiday stress.

A recent study by mental health researchers discovered that there are higher levels of serotonin transporters in the brain during the winter than in the summer; the first time such a difference has ever been found. Since more serotonin transporters were found when there was less light, and serotonin transporters remove serotonin, the finding would suggest that there is more serotonin removal in the brain during the winter, which may be the reason why winter mood disorder resurfaces.

While it isn't necessarily as profound as other forms of depression, it still demands awareness and treatment. People should realize and admit that winter mood disorder is an actual medical condition. People who live in areas where wintertime is especially cold and dark might believe that experiencing feelings of depression during the cold months is just a fact of life, but when the symptoms affect your day to day ability to function, then the situation needs further investigation.

Fortunately there are treatment options for winter mood disorder, frequently by means of light therapy, which works very well and is all natural. This form of treatment calls for patients to sit in front of a light box or lamp and take in the high intensity ultraviolet rays. Light therapy has been demonstrated to be beneficial for lots of people. Psychotherapy as well as talking to loved ones can also be valuable and help you avoid social isolation. Exercise has been proven to relieve symptoms of depression also. For more critical situations, medication tends to be prescribed.

Watching for patterns and paying attention to your moods are good ways to prevent winter mood disorder from negatively impacting your life. If you have suffered with it in the past, beginning light treatment, changing your diet, getting more exercise or adding medication ahead of time can help prevent it or reduce its severity.

by: Stephen Hardy.

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