Dealing With Seasonal Depression
Ever wonder why you're feeling down and just not yourself in the cold months of the year? If you're like me and you do, there's a reason. You might have the winter blues, also known as seasonal depression.
It's okay if you feel a little down in the winter. It makes sense, shorter days and freezing cold weather. No wonder you're feeling a little moody. The actual definition is "Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that's related to changes in seasons — SAD begins and ends at about the same times every year. If you're like most people with SAD, your symptoms start in the fall and continue into the winter months, sapping your energy and making you feel moody." Personally, I just feel down and not myself some days. I'm not here to diagnose anyone nor do I have the ability to even if I wanted, but it's a good idea to gain knowledge on this if you feel like this is something that affects you and different ways you can relieve these symptoms.
I had no idea it was normal or that there was an explanation as to why I felt down in these winter months and I can bet I am not the only person who didn't know seasonal depression was an actual thing. Some symptoms of the winter blues are oversleeping, craving carbohydrates and weight gain. Everyone has their "sluggish" days in the cold months however if you feel like seasonal depression is a serious issue for you that is impacting your daily life, this is when you should contact your doctor.
So, how do we beat these winter blues? I have some tips! Start out by making sure you are getting the proper amount of sleep you need, not too little or too much. Oversleeping can make you feel even worse and decrease your chances of feeling better. Furthermore, exercise can go a long way in helping you feel good which I explain in my other blog posts "Top 10 ways to prevent stress" and "5 ways to be happier". Also, get as much sunshine as possible. Go outside when it isn't too cold out and have the heat of the sun on your skin. Another thing you can try, have you ever heard of light therapy boxes? They give off light that mimics sunshine and this can help you feel better in the winter months. Of course the best thing you could do is to go on vacation to somewhere nice and warm but not everybody can just take off. Make sure you are getting as much vitamin D as possible in order to supply your body with what it needs.
No one wants to feel badly during the winter months when it's already too cold to even go outside. Hopefully these few tips can help make you feel better and put you in a better mood even when its cold and gloomy outside. If you feel that you have a severe case of seasonal depression don't be afraid to seek further help. If you're like me and just feel down in general on those dark and cold days, try a few of these tips to help to make the winter seem not as long and dreadful.