Feeling SAD?

Darker days making you feel blue? Suffering from unrelenting cabin fever? Are you sleeping more, lacking energy, craving sweets? You may be feeling SAD, or seasonal affective disorder, a type of depression that can seriously impact your daily life. As many as half a million people in the United States may have winter-onset depression and another 10% to 20% may experience mild SAD according to the American Association of Family Physicians.

Research at Loyola University seems to indicate that SAD is first and foremost a physical disorder where reduced exposure to natural light leads to biochemical imbalances in the brain. This may be a sort of genetic leftover; the human equivalent of hibernation. But rather than retreat to the nearest cave (with a bag of Oreos,) try some of these mood lifters:

• Get outside for at least 30 minutes a day, preferably at mid-day. Lunch walk anyone?
• Take a multivitamin that includes magnesium, B-complex and minerals.
• Aerobic exercise. (My favorite.)
• Avoid caffeine. (You've got to be kidding me.)

If you're less than thrilled with these suggestions, you might try light therapy. Light therapy mimics outdoor light and causes a biochemical change in your brain that lifts your mood and relieves symptoms. In light therapy, you sit a few feet from a specialized light therapy box so that you're exposed to very bright light. Light therapy is generally easy to use and has relatively few side effects. However, light therapy hasn't been officially approved as a treatment by the Food and Drug Administration because of a lack of definitive evidence about its effectiveness in clinical trials. Before you purchase a light therapy box or consider light therapy, consult your doctor or mental health provider to make sure it's right for you. (Got my light from Costco...)

Most people experience some days when they feel down. But if you feel down for days at a time and you can't seem to get motivated to do activities you normally enjoy, see your doctor. This is particularly important if you notice that your sleep patterns and appetite have changed — and certainly if you feel hopeless, think about suicide, or find yourself turning to alcohol for comfort or relaxation. More than usual. (Frankly, just thinking about the impending holidays makes me feel hopeless, think about suicide, and turn to alcohol for comfort.) Find more info here.