The holiday celebrations are over, your tree is composting,
and the cheery Christmas music is no longer playing. For many this is a time
where Seasonal Affective Disorder a.k.a. “Seasonal Blues” can begin to sneak up
on you. What is Seasonal Affective Disorder you may ask? Seasonal Affective
Disorder, or SAD, is a type of depression that affects some people at the same
time every year (usually winter). In fact, half a million Americans are thought
to suffer from SAD each winter. Symptoms of SAD include moodiness, lack of
energy, and low thoughts.
Here in Michigan, we get lots of snow, very cold
temperatures, and the sun is not something we see much of in the winter months,
resulting in many sufferers. You may even work with a handful! There are
multiple ways you can attempt to beat Seasonal Affective Disorder this winter. We
will take you through a few.
1. Sleep. It is important to stick to a
consistent sleep schedule. Try to get 8 hours of sleep and not oversleep
either. A few ways to ensure a better night’s sleep are cooler temperatures in
a room, covering or removing electronic gadgets that emit lights, and stay away
from caffeine six hours before bed time for your best sleep.
2. Go outside anyway. Although it may
be chilly and cloudy, it is still important to get outside daily, even if only
for 10 minutes. Light still pokes through the clouds and increases serotonin
and dopamine levels.
3. Purchase a Sun Lamp. This is known
as light therapy. Light therapy uses light boxes emitting full spectrum light
similar in composition to sunlight. Thirty minutes a day in front of this light
can boost mood naturally. To learn more about light therapy visit http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART03222/Light-Therapy.html.
Remember there are multiple ways to try to beat the seasonal
blues; you need to find what works best for you. Also keep in mind you can talk
to your health care professional about SAD as they may have some helpful
insight.
