Depression and mood swings are commonly caused by external factors: stress, traumatic episodes, etc. However, the onset of seasonal affective disorder (S.A.D. or SAD) has little to do with the problems in our lives. You can beat winter blues by first understanding SAD.
Winter and depression may sound like two unrelated topics, but there is indeed a correlation. Winter nights are longer than the days and this can have an adverse effect on our bodies. Humans have a circadian rhythm that lasts 24 hours. In the absence of day light, this rhythm is extended by an hour to 25 hours total, which in turn creates an imbalance. Your body is unable to adapt to a longer cycle.
It is also during the night that melatonin is produced, and with longer hours of night time, the production of melatonin is significantly increased. This causes bouts of depression. Consequentially, depression causes insomnia. Without proper sleep, the production of serotonin — which has been touted as the ‘happy brain chemical’ — ebbs. It is all a vicious cycle.
SAD is not a Death Sentence
Thankfully, with prompt and proper treatment, the effects of SAD can be reversible. It all begins with the first step of identifying that you indeed have the mental problem. Then, you can take some action to counter this disorder.
An Active Lifestyle and a Healthy Diet
These two solutions seem to be a universal panacea for many diseases, and there is a reason for this: they work! Diet and exercising can help elevate the levels of vitamin D. A healthy amount of exposure to sunlight often does the trick, but the next best thing you can do during winter is to eat well and work out.
Exercising also helps to release the production of serotonin in your brain, and a good workout session will lift your mood considerably. This will help to combat depression.
Improving Air Quality is Of Paramount Importance
Breathing comes so naturally that we don’t even think twice about it. Without oxygen, there is no life. It is therefore critical that we ensure the air we breathe in is clean and fresh, if we want to sustain a healthy life.
Unless you’re an athlete who loves taking hikes or an explorer who loves to travel, you probably spend many waking hours indoors. The air in an enclosed area can be contaminated: germs from someone nursing a cough or accumulated piles dirt and dust. This is exacerbated because the air is trapped and we don’t get a supply of fresh air when we stay indoors.
An air purifier can help to remedy this problem. Consumers these days have recognized the benefits of indoor air purification and have invested in an air purifier. Clean air is the key to healthy living, and can help with problems such as nasal allergies and asthma. Be sure to do a search on ‘best air purifier reviews’ to see which products are the more popular and durable ones.
Taking Control of Your Problem
Thankfully, SAD is a manageable illness that will get better with time and treatment. Simple solutions such as spending more time outdoors in the day and getting an air purifier will go a long way in overcoming this disorder. You don’t have to be bowed down with worry anymore!
About the author: Alen Boon enjoys writing, funny movies and staying fit. When he’s not researching and writing health related articles you can find him clearing his mind and soul through martial arts and high impact exercise.
Credits: Photo courtesy of Jesse Therrien.