It’s January, and where I live that means it’s winter. We’ve been blessed this year with a ridiculously mild winter, but there are stretches that get long all the same. The distinct lack of snow this winter coupled with mild temperatures has been wonderful. The gloomy grey sky for days on end – not so much. I found myself working away yesterday feeling very blue, and I’m sure lack of sunshine is the culprit. As I walked I wondered just how sad I was.
Am I sad, or is it SAD?
Some might dismiss the sad feeling that comes this time every year as nothing out of the ordinary, but in some cases it might be more. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a real, treatable type of depression found in about 10 million Americans which is roughly about 5% of the U.S. population. It’s characterized with feeling sad, sluggish, tired, irritable, hopeless, and in some cases worse.
Seeking treatment is a must if you’re beyond the point of being able to function. If you’ve lost your will to live seek help ASAP.
Feel better – here’s how:
A variety of treatments are recommended for those diagnosed with clinical SAD. Those treatments include:
- Light therapy (aka phytotherapy) – Involves sitting near a special light source first thing in the morning to effect your brain chemicals. You can read more about it here.
- Psychotherapy
- Medication
It’s important to meet with a healthcare professional to for diagnosis if you suspect SAD.
For the rest of us who are just blue-ish
I’ve known people who use light boxes and speak highly of their benefits. Of course, I grew up in the 90s and a lot of people I knew thought visiting a tanning bed was the answer. I’m not going to say the latter does or doesn’t work, but I definitely wouldn’t risk skin cancer to find out!
For three winters I worked at a school. Since I was the new kid on the faculty block, I got the room with no windows. I went to work in the dark, and I went home in the dark. I soon discovered that increasing my vitamin D intake was beneficial in keeping me from recreating the axe scene from The Shining.
Other surefire ways to feel happier till the sun returns:
They might look sad, but they tasted good.
- Make cookies with your kids. You’re probably already craving the carbs due to your SAD – embrace it!
- Go for a walk.
- Count your blessings (LITERALLY) – Gratitude goes a long way to resetting your outlook.
- Go on vacation, and if that’s not possible – start planning one. Just dreaming of sunny days can turn “hopeless” into “hopeful”
These are just a few ideas, I’m sure there’s plenty more
Feel free to share you best strategies for beating the winter blues, so we can all face winter with a smile.