Are the short days and the cold, weather weather getting you down?
You may be suffering from seasonal affective disorder (SADS) which affects many people all over the world each year.
WHAT IS SADS
SADS is sometimes called the "winter blues".
In the northern hemisphere it occurs usually between December and February when there is a lack of natural light and the days become a lot shorter.
THE SCIENCE
The lack of sunlight can stop the hypothalamus in our brains from working properly which can affect the making of:
Melatonin, a hormone that makes you sleepy, people with SADs may have a higher levels of this in their body
Serotonin, a hormone that affects mood, appetite and sleep and the lack of sunlight can cause lower serotonin levels
HOW DOES IT AFFECT PEOPLE?
Symptoms can vary from low mood, to loss of pleasure or interest in normal everyday activities, irritability, feeling lethargic, sleeping for longer than normal and finding it hard to get up in the morning. People with SADs may also suffer with concentration problems, feeling low, anxiety, mood changes and overeating.
TREATMENT
Find what works for you. You can buy light therapies that simulate sunlight and also alarms that wake you up gently to daylight here.
When booking sunny holidays, plan them for winter months instead of summer, as this may be more beneficial to you.
Try to keep physically active during the winter months, even though you don't feel like it, even if it's just some light exercises at home, it will help.
I go on a sunbed for 6 minutes once a week and that helps me but this isn't a safe method due to the risk of skin cancer.
A healthy diet is also important, and you should try to balance the common SAD craving for carbohydrates, such as pasta and potatoes, with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. Some people find that taking extra vitamin B12 is helpful.
For more severe cases it may be better to seek help and your GP may suggest cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), antidepressants or a combination of the two.
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Click here to read more on SADs
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