Combat SAD

TORONTO, Dec. 18, 2012 /CNW Group/ - "Many people begin to experience symptoms of seasonal mood changes as daylight hours get shorter - usually in late fall and early winter. Most common is the winter blues, a feeling of less positivity in the winter months, which dissipates when the winter season is over. The most severe of seasonal mood change is seasonal affective disorder or SAD, which is characterized by feelings of hopelessness, lethargy and oversleeping and increases in appetite and weight gain. SAD affects more women than men: up to 80 per cent of those affected by SAD are female."

7 Healthy Ways To Combat SAD:

1. Spend quality time outside every day. Spend at least fifteen minutes exposed to sunlight in order to increase production of vitamin D in your body. If you cannot get outdoors during daylight hours, try to sit near a sunny window when possible.
2. Get tested for vitamin D levels in your body. Supplement your diet, if necessary, by taking high quality nutritional supplements.
3. Exercise at least three to four times a week. There are a number of activities you can do to increase your energy level, such as walking, indoor swimming, dancing, jumping rope, aerobics, or whatever else causes you to move your body.
4. Try light therapy. Using a light box or dawn simulator works much faster than taking drugs and there are no known side effects unless overused. Follow directions on the product, and you should not have any problem increasing your energy level. Some insurances cover the cost.
5. Keep a regular schedule. Try to keep your regular waking and sleeping times throughout the whole year. People who work various shifts have the most trouble with SAD in the winter. Try for 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night. Keep your bedroom prepared for sleeping, i.e. remove the big screen TV and relegate it to the den or living room.
6. Eat seasonal foods. Balance your nutritional needs throughout the year by eating the natural foods God provide throughout the year. Our bodies were created for specific needs and eating what nature provides is a good way to keep our body working at peak level. Avoid eating over processed foods. Eat whole grains and complex carbs.
7. Listen to Music. Music is known to affect people emotionally in many different ways. Find some music that you enjoy, something that really brightens your heart and makes you feel joy. Let it flow through your house, car or headphones when you start feeling down. Music can distract you and help keep your mind off things like the winter cold and lack of sunlight.
   There are more helpful hints available online. Just google "combating Seasonal Affective Disorder" to find some more ideas that may work for you.