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Editorial
Don't let SAD give you the winter blues
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
If you're feeling blue today, it may be because your candidate didn't do so well on election day.
On the other hand, it might just be because we're headed into the winter months, after an especially pleasant late summer and fall.
Seasonal Affective Disorder is a real condition, and here are some symptoms:
* Feelings of sadness, hopelessness and anxiety during the winter months, growing progressively worse as the winter goes along.
* Feeling fatigue, loss of energy, trouble concentrating and unmotivated.
* Changes in appetite and sleeping habits.
* Social withdrawal -- loss of interest in social activities and hobbies. Some people tend to 'hibernate" during the winter months, and don't leave their house very often, feeling isolated, lonely and depressed.
"The cause of SAD is still unknown, but we know environmental factors play a big role," said Diane Lang, speaker, author and life coach. "A person who lives in an area near a lake can get 'the lake effect,'where he gets so much snow and very little sun all winter, resulting in SAD. We also know that SAD can run in th family -- genetics play a role. Seasonal affective disorder is more common in women and we usually see symptoms starting in young adulthood.
Here are some options for dealing with SAD:
* Spend more time outdoors to grab natural light by taking a morning or afternoon walk, even if the weather is cold and snowy.
* Exercise to produce endorphins and reduce stress hormones.
* Open up shades and curtains to bring the outdoors inside.
* Don't let winter make you feel trapped -- make weekly plans to have a fun dinner out of with friends or family, catch a movie and be sure to laugh and socialize.
* Plan a vacation some where the weather is warm and the sun is shining.
Alternatively, talk to your doctor about anti-depressants, light therapy or psychotherapy.
Perhaps it IS the election that is leaving you down in the dumps, or maybe it's the weather or even the change back to standard time from daylight saving time.
Whatever the reason, don't let the season get your down.