Feeling SAD? Try these tips
The winter months can be tough on everyone. For people who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), it can be a particularly difficult time.
Symptoms of SAD include:
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Increased sleep
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Fatigue and loss of energy
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Carbohydrate cravings and overeating
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Headaches
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Social withdrawal
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Depression
While no one knows the cause of SAD yet, heredity, age and chemical makeup seem to play a role, as does the availability of sunlight.
The most common treatment for SAD is light therapy — exposure to a special light that is much brighter than ordinary household lights and that covers a particular spectrum.
If you experience depression, or if you think you may have SAD, see your physician.
Light up your life
Whether or not you are diagnosed with SAD, there are some relatively easy things you can do to help improve your mood and relieve the stresses of winter.
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Let the sun shine in. Open the blinds and curtains in your home and trim tree branches and shrubs that block windows.
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Visit the sunny side of the street. Get outside on sunny days — walk to errands instead of driving, or sit in a sheltered spot and enjoy the feeling of the sun’s rays on your face.
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Stay active. Stress and anxiety can make SAD symptoms worse. Going for walks, skating, jogging, or doing any form of exercise you enjoy, indoor or outdoor, will help relieve stress.
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Mimic summer. If you can’t get away for a vacation in a southern location, visit a greenhouse and breathe in the scents and the fresh air. Buy a bouquet of flowers to brighten your home and lift your mood.