Be glad, not SAD
Does the advent of the winter season make you feel uneasy? Does the darkness cast a pall of gloom over you? You are not alone. For many people, winter brings along with it the depressing condition known as Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD. Here we shall find out why this happens and how to combat this problem.
The symptoms of SAD are a tendency to slow down, a reduction in energy, a desire to eat more and an overall feeling of depression. More and more people are now understanding SAD and studies are being made to find the exact causes and the ways to combat it. It has been found out that cold is not the main culprit; SAD is related to the amount of sunlight exposure we get, how much and for how long. SAD is linked to a lack of sunlight reaching our skin, which disturbs the body’s natural rhythms. Because of its connection to sunlight, SAD is much more common in countries that experience short days during winter than in warmer countries closer to the equator.
Many sufferers, especially in the northern countries take recourse to light therapy, i.e. bright boxes and controlled morning simulations, so as to combat SAD. Many people go to sunnier climes to escape this debilitating effect. There are, of course, other less expensive ways to combat this menace.First option is to control your diet. When attacked by SAD, people tend to go for fatty, carbohydrate-rich comfort foods. Some people resort to drinking. But these matters actually make things worse. It’s advisable to go for foods which have sharp flavors and are low in fat. Extra vitamin B also helps.
Another good option is to get some exercise. It need not be heavy exercise, just a simple walk will do. You can also stick to the indoors and avail the facilities of a good gym. A little exercise can go a long way in fighting various kinds of depression.
A tendency during the winter months is to oversleep. But this is actually detrimental. Better to jump out of bed and greet the day. Even a forced smile in the morning may help you to get rid of the blues. Get up early, get out and feel the sun on your face!
Finally, do the things that make you happy. If you are not feeling up to scratch, then think about what you’d be doing had the weather been different. Think it, do it! See your mood lift up by leaps and bounds!