Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): 11 proven ways to tackle this surprisingly common condition

As the weather grows gloomier and gloomier and the daylight hours steadily decrease, many of us will be beginning to feel the effects of seasonal affective disorder. Whether you’re struggling to get out of bed even more than usual, not feeling motivated to work, or only feel interested in eating a jacket potato in front of the television, you’re certainly not alone. The colder months have left many people feeling sluggish and gloomy, which could be an indicator of winter depression. Officially known as SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), this winter depression is thought to be caused by reduced exposure to sunlight during the autumn and winter months. This can cause a sudden drop in mood, leading sufferers to feel less active, have a lack of interest in life and wanting to sleep more. But when spring arrives, those symptoms virtually disappear. So as we languish in the middle of the winter period, we take a look at the best ways to overcome SAD. From switching your morning coffee for light exposure, to snacking on popcorn, these tips can easily help you brighten your day. Instead of buying your regular morning coffee, why not save up for a SAD lamp for your desk at work? Caffeine in coffee and energy drinks further suppresses the levels of serotonin, the chemical that regulates brain functions such as mood, appetite, sleep, and memory, which can already be low due to a reduced exposure to sunlight. You can counter this drop by using full spectrum light bulbs, supposedly developed for residents of arctic regions who have extremely long, winter nights. These special lamps emit white light emulating the sun’s spectrum of wavelengths. Researchers at more than 15 medical centers and clinics around the world noticed that an exposure to white light showed a marked […]

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