Fall is the right time to prepare for SAD. SAD or Seasonal Affective Disorder affects many people during the winter. SAD is characterized by feeling down or depressed during the winter months. The key to feeling better this winter is to prepare now, before you start to feel down or depressed.
There are many ways to counteract the effects of SAD. Lightboxes, exercise, herbs, and medication are all tools that can help keep the symptoms of SAD at bay. It is a good time to pull your lightbox out of summer storage and make sure that it is still working and the bulbs are still producing the required 10,000 lux. Or it may be time to do some research on buying a lightbox for this winter. Research has shown that exercise in the morning can help alleviate SAD symptoms. Now is the time to start to establish that morning exercise routine. If you are able to find a way to combine exercise with the lightbox in the morning, you can get a double mood boost. Most people wait until they are starting to have depressive symptoms before they think about seeing their doctor. Most antidepressants take between two and eight weeks before you start to see symptom alleviation. Now is the time to call your doctor and discuss medication (such as antidepressants) and herbal (such as St. John’s Wort) options. If you start those before experiencing depression symptoms, you can avoid feeling the winter blues.
If you or a loved one suffer with depression or SAD, I am willing to help. Please contact me and together we can work to reduce your suffering.
