Winter Blues

February might be the shortest calendar month of the year; however it seems to be the longest out of the winter months.  The shorter days and presence of the fluffy white stuff everywhere takes a toll on some people.  They may begin to feel the pinch of the winter blues also known as “seasonal effective disorder”. (Wikipedia)  The disorder was defined in 1984 by Norman E Rosenthal.  “The US National Library of Medicine notes that some people experience a serious mood change when the seasons change.  They may sleep too much, have little energy, and may also feel depressed. (Wikipedia)

Other signs and symptoms include:

·         Difficulty in waking up in the morning

·         Nausea

·         Changes in eating habits

·         Cravings for foods rich in carbohydrates

·         Weight gain

·         Mood swings

·         Depression

·         Lack of enthusiasm

Common causes behind seasonal effective disorder are the lack of serotonin in the body’s system and the lack of vitamin D.  Serotonin is a chemical component in our system that helps the nerves to communicate with one another.  Low serotonin is the reason for increased appetite and depression like symptoms.  There are medications available to help regulate the body system back to the right levels. Vitamin D on the other hand helps with the development of our bones and teeth.  Vitamin D is produced naturally by the sun’s rays on our skin.  During the winter months, deficiency in Vitamin D is common from the lack of sun light. Taking a multi-vitamin daily with vitamin D-3 will help with the energy levels during the longer winter months.

What else can you do to help cope with the winter blues?  Here are a few simple and effective tricks you can do at home. 

Leave the curtains open before going to bed to allow natural light enter the room in the morning.  Get in the habit of getting out of bed right away after waking up and going outside even just for ten minutes.  This will help you to wake up and feel energized ready to tackle the day.  You may want to invest in a light box, however these are not regulated.  Make sure to use one with a diffusing screen to filter out UV rays.  It is important to get as much light as possible during the winter months to avoid the winter blues.

Spend at least a half hour outside.  Going out for a daily walk or getting involved with a winter sport or activity. Although they might not be visible, the sun’s rays are more direct during the winter months giving us plenty of Vitamin D.  Also the winter fresh air is very beneficial for breathing, especially for those with allergies, asthma or breathing difficulties. Being active during the winter will also help you to regulate your weight and shed off unwanted pounds.  It will also help to regulate the serotonin levels helping you ward off  the winter blues. 

Keeping a healthy life style even during the long winter months is essential for overall health.   Being in good mental and physical shape will help to prevent seasonal effective disorder and keep feeling your best.

Sources:

“Seasonal Affective Disorder”. Wikipedia-the free encyclopedia. 2011.  Web 25 January 2011. http://en.wikipedia.org/.