Beating the winter blues

Do you often get affected by feelings of anxiety and depression during the winter months and find it hard to cope during such times? Then probably you are a victim of winter blues just like many others who face a similar problem due to seasonal variations. However, if you are suffering excessively from anxiety or depression then you may be affected by Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and may require serious medical help. There are many ways to deal with this problem and many medications and self-help techniques are suggested as remedies to tackle this problem successfully.

It is important to recognise the symptoms of this problem and seek support from your friends and family members to find all possible solutions to this problem.

What is Seasonal Affective Disorder?

In simple terms, Seasonal Affective Disorder is a form of depression which affects the person during the winter months. It may be experienced as the days get shorter and there is less sunlight and the symptoms may last until late winter or until the beginning of the spring season. As per research studies, almost 1 in 300 of the Australian adult population suffer from such a phenomena during the cold winter months. It is more commonly found in the Northern hemisphere and is almost rare in the temperate climate.

According to Dr Murray, convenor of Clinical Psychology program at Melbourne University SAD in its extreme form can be classified as a kind of recurrent depression. Moreover, this trend can be seen among Australians who show signs of mood swings and low energy levels during the winter months as compared to the hotter months.

Along with the changes in mood and gloomy feelings this phenomenon may make a person feel lethargic and lead to cravings for high carbohydrate and fatty foods as per Dr Murray's observations. People suffering from such regular bouts of depression need to seek professional help and assistance.

How to recognise if you have a problem?

Here are some of the typical symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder:

Troubled by feelings of guilt anxiety despair hopelessness
Avoiding company of people and prefer to stay away from family and friends
Reduced levels of energy and constant fatigue
Change in sleep patterns and unable to sleep well
Difficulty in concentrating and loss of interest
Increased craving for fatty and carbohydrate rich foods
Loss of interest in sex and irritability over trivial issues

Beating the blues - some tips you can follow

If you are suffering from winter blues which is a milder form of depression then you can follow some of the tips suggested here to fight the problem:

Soak up the natural light

It is a good idea to get at least 1 hour of outdoor light especially during the morning hours, as sunlight can be a natural form of mood enhancer (and of course wear SPF).
Get involved in social activities

Invite friends and family for a social gathering such as a dinner party during winter months and have a nice get together. This can help in lifting your mood and improve your energy levels. Or opt for a cultural activity such as visiting art galleries or the theatre.
Start moving

The best thing to keep yourself physically active and mentally alert is to start exercising. Exercise is proven to enhance your mood and help you get out of negative feelings.
Seek help

It is a good idea to share your problems and concerns with professionals. At times such extreme feelings of depression and anxiety may affect the confidence level of the person and leave behind fears which have drastic effects on both personal and professional lives. It is important to recognise such problems as early as possible and find positive solutions to deal with them effectively. If you or somebody you know has experienced some of the above effects for more than two weeks where everyday life has become arduous, do seek support:
www.beyondblue.org.au
www.blackdoginstitute.org.au