subject: Coping With Seasonal Affective Disorder This Winter [print this page] It is a common fact that people will go down with colds in the colder seasons and may generally feel a bit more apathetic and lethargic this is not due to their own personalities, but actually the change in weather.
The first problem that many will face is that it is now darker in the mornings, making it far harder to wake up naturally often this isnt because some of us simply arent morning people there are a number of other factors that could affect this; one of the most common being a form of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
Research has shown that 1 in 15 people in Britain suffer from SAD, whilst a milder form of it will affect almost a fifth of us. This can be a demoralising condition, yet although it is unavoidable, there are a number of ways to beat it and keep yourself happier and more active in the winter season.
Perhaps the easiest way to combat the symptoms is to keep yourself warm set timers on your heating or invest in thick layered clothing to keep out the cold. Warm drinks and hot food are also highly recommended, as are bright yet soft lights that keep the long winter evenings at bay until its time for bed.
Light boxes are also a recent invention in combatting the symptoms of SAD these boxes emulate the rays of the sun and can help you feel more awake and happier just by sitting in front of them for short periods of time. A number of SAD sufferers also utilise a dawn-simulator alarm clock, which simply lights up at the time of your alarm, mimicking a sunrise and allowing you to wake up more naturally.
If you do not like the idea of a light box and simply want to stick to your normal sleeping arrangements, you should set your alarm a few minutes earlier to give yourself an extra bit of time to adjust to waking up. Then it is recommended that you have something to drink and have a hearty breakfast, particularly if its a cold day.
Another reason that SAD affects so many is that the colder weather can make you feel more isolated and lonely, so it is vital that you keep active and sociable go and see your family and friends and talk through your condition. You can even look into joining an SAD support group to share advice, experiences and tips.
