Beat the Winter Blues

When the summer starts winding down do your moods go with it? If your moods fly south like a migratory bird every winter you may have seasonal affective disorder, commonly abbreviated SAD. If winter blues means more than just what color scarf you're wearing this season check out some of these symptoms:

• Feeling sluggish, low energy levels
  
• Constant tiredness, sleeping excessively or disturbances in sleep
  
• Inability to focus, inattentive
  
• Increase in appetite, craving for foods high in carbohydrates
• Desire to be left alone, loss of interest in activities
  

If, every year, you notice an onset of these symptoms in the fall lasting throughout the winter season you may have some form of SAD. As many as 20% of adults experience some form of SAD. It can be attributed to a diminished serotonin production due to lack of sunlight. Serotonin can produce a calming effect and is produced after consuming foods high in carbohydrates (which explains the correlation of depression and weight gain).

If a lack of light is dimming you moods then light therapy might be the solution for your moody months. You might consider a Lights of America desk lamp to brighten your mood. The lamps are meant to simulate sunlight and help get the serotonin pumping again. However, there are plenty of other ways to get a pick-me-up if you're down in December:

• It may sound subversive, but get outside and try to enjoy the winter. Go ice skating or sledding and trick yourself into having a little fun in the snow.
• Exercise more than you ordinarily would. On top of boosting your mood you'd burn off some of those carb craving calories.
• Acupuncture may help alleviate some of the symptoms of depression.
• Hot yoga can make you forget all about that blustery storm outside.
• A fish oil supplement can help with feelings of depression.
• It's essential to get a proper dose of Vitamin C and B, especially in the winter.
• If you think your depression might be a bit too much to handle, consult a physician about the possibility of medications to give the blues the boot.