Depression Treaments

Well, here it is… the middle of January.

The glittery holidays - Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s - with the hustle bustle of shopping, parties, and eating all that decadent food (yum!) are now just memories. There’s nothing to distract your attention from the fact that it’s still winter… cold, dark, gloomy.

How’s your energy level right now? If you’re feeling so down you’re about eye level with the slugs you’re probably suffering from the Winter Blahs.

Winter Blahs are more commonly known as SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). This acronym is right on. Sad is how most people who suffer from it feel. There are other symptoms, too, such as:

• loss of energy

• craving for carbohydrates

• need for more sleep

• depression

• irrational emotions

• weight gain (must be all those carbs!)

• mood swings

• lowered immunity to illness

SAD is caused by one thing - lack of sunlight. Although most people experience it during winter months, especially if they live in more northern latitudes, anyone who doesn’t get enough sunlight each day can suffer from it.

Women are particularly prone to SAD because they tend to be indoors more than men, and women who are reaching menopause seem to experience increased symptoms.

Most people don’t notice the symptoms until right about now - mid January. The symptoms usually begin in late September and gradually worsen until late spring when our solar batteries get enough sunlight to recharge. However, until the first of January we have lots of distractions with all the fun holidays. Then suddenly, when the holidays are no longer a distraction factor, people begin to notice one or more SAD symptoms.

Here’s the good news: there are simple, inexpensive methods you can use to naturally relieve the depression and other symptoms of the Winter Blahs. (without prescription drugs or expensive trips to a tropical country).

Although these protocols should be started in October to achieve optimum results, it’s better to start late than to never start at all. That’s why I teach a class on Overcoming the Winter Blahs in October.

Since it’s no longer October and you or someone you know may be in the throes of the Winter Blahs, here are three of the most important protcols you can use to alleviate the Winter Blahs:

• Go for a walk outside for at least 20 minutes. Optimum time is at noon so you get the most sunlight, but anytime is better than none. Exercise increases levels of dopamine and noradrenalin, hormones which lessen depression. Bonus: walking helps burn off all those carbs you ate during the holidays that are now sitting on your hips.

• Take Vitamin D-3 supplement every day. Recent research shows that this specific part of Vitamin D alleviates depression. Remember: Vitamin D supports your body in utlitizing sunlight to grow strong bones. Your immune system resides in the marrow of your bones.

• Drink lots of water. Water helps your body detoxify. Toxin overload not only makes you feel sluggish, it makes it easier for you to get sick.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 14th, 2008 at 6:40 am and is filed under Depression Treatments, clinical depression treatment, depression treatment center, depression treatment centers, depression treatment facilities, depression treatment program, drug treatment for depression, inpatient depression treatment, manic depression treatment. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.