Don't be SAD

Saturday, October 22, 2011 at 07:07PM
[Your Name Here]

As many as 25% of Minnesotans are prone to experiencing some form of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) from late September through early April.

SAD has many of the same symptoms as other kinds of depression, but its hallmark features are a craving for sweets, overeating carbohydrate-rich foods, weight gain, disturbed sleep, and fatigue.

Now is the time to implement self-care strategies to keep yourself sunny and productive—in spite of the dearth of daylight. Try the suggestions below and see what works for you.

1. Get assessed for the use of light therapy
2. Engage in moderate exercise
3. Get outdoors for 30-60 minutes each day during daylight
4. Eat fruits and vegetables
5. Eat oatmeal
6. Minimize the use of alcohol
7. Increase your activity level
8. Get out of the house more
9. Plan a winter vacation to a sunny climate

If you'd like to learn more, I recommend the book Winter Blues by Norman Rosenthal, M.D.

Article originally appeared on Experienced psychotherapy in St. Paul, Minneapolis, Twin Cities (http://drcharmoli.com/).