Here are four ways to help beat seasonal affective disorder - a type of depression that occurs in the winter and can cause fatigue, weight gain, and decreased motivation.
Here are four ways to help beat seasonal affective disorder - a type of depression that can cause fatigue, weight gain, and decreased motivation.
Light therapy is the most effective way to treat SAD, says Stephen Josephson, Ph.D., clinical associate professor at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City. Just buy a light box and sit in front of it in the morning. “Thirty minutes is enough,” Josephson says. “The Center for Environmental Therapeutics offers these units; sometimes insurance will pay.”
Your eyes play a critical role in regulating the biochemistry and rhythms of your body. “For some people, their retinas are insensitive and therefore need more light to maintain normal functionality,” Josephson says. The more early-morning sunlight that enters your eyes, the less melatonin your body produces, making you less lethargic for the rest of the day.
Seasonal affective disorder brings with it a major diet-wrecking symptom: the craving of high-carb comfort foods. Don't be fooled. "It's like a drug," Josephson explains. "It has some anti-anxiety effects, but over time it has some negative effects, too." Abusing simple carbs, like chips and ice cream, is a sure way to derail your fitness goals.
“Inactivity hurts anyone prone
to mood problems,” Josephson says. “Activities that make you feel accomplished or productive are helpful.” The effect of exercise
on mood is well documented. Running, for example, has been scientifically proven to flood the brain with mood-boosting endorphins. “You have to exercise every day if you want to see an effect on depression,” Josephson says.
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Beat Depression and Seasonal Affective Disorder with These Four Tips for Men