Don’t Be SO S.A.D.
I went to pick my daughter up from New York City for Thanksgiving last week, just as the weather was forecasted to bring a Nor’easter. The high winds brought freezing rain with them, and while I was glad it wasn’t snow, it was still quite a pain to drive out of the city.
The plan in NYC was to get a peek at the Macy’s Day balloons being inflated the day before the 85th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Because of the high winds and torrential rain, the plan to inflate balloons was delayed, causing a change in our itinerary. But that wasn’t a problem; the rain didn’t stop a visit to Sephora or a nice Thai dinner with Channing. I am thankful that I can easily switch gears to enjoy whatever my surroundings may be, even if it is rainy and cold. I miss being childlike and seeing Macy’s team at work getting everything ready for everyone to enjoy for the upcoming holiday season. And I still enjoyed the balloons of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in the comforts of my warm home.
December is typically one of the happiest times when people celebrate Jesus’ birth and all the festivities associated with Christmas. Now that the sun sets closer to 5:00 PM daily, there are darker skies, shorter days, seriously colder temperatures, and snow. For many, the lack of sunlight can trigger Seasonal Affective Disorder, or S. A. D., also known as winter depression, winter blues, or seasonal depression.
SAD is a type of depression that occurs during a change in season, usually in fall and winter. People who suffer from SAD have many of the same symptoms as those with depression: lack of energy, the tendency to oversleep and overeat, especially a craving for carbohydrates, which leads to weight gain. Other symptoms include but are not limited to hopelessness, difficulty concentrating on or completing tasks, withdrawal from family and friends, weight gain, and not enjoying things that one enjoys this time of the year.
How to Avoid S.A.D.:
- Eat Nourishing, High Protein Foods
- Try Bright Light Therapy
- Take Vitamin D
- Exercise To Get Plenty of Oxygen
- Supplements: 5-HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan) and/or St John’s Wort
- Minimize/Eliminate Caffeine and other stimulants;
- Minimize/Eliminate: Aspartame or Nutri sweet
- Avoid Stress, Learn Relaxation Techniques
- Don’t Skip Meals
If you continue struggling and feeling hopeless, don’t hesitate to see a qualified medical professional. You don’t have to conquer these overwhelming feelings on your own. Seek help, hope, and sunny days!
Eugenia,
Good information as usual and I think sometimes I suffer from SAD as well during this time. I also had Vitamin D deficiency and you are so on point with taking these supplements. Great job as usual. 🙂
I think with the limited amount of sunlight during the winter months, many people have S.A.D. Thank God, winter only lasts a few months.