Seasonal Depression

Changing of the seasons can often mean a changing of the mood. Many people claim they have Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) which is a depression brought about by too little exposure to sunlight. There is actually a fair bit of research around this topic, as there is a higher rate of population depression in countries where there are fewer hours of sunlight oerall, and the theory to date is that it may have something to do with vitamin D levels, which are enhanced by expoure to the sun. Whatever the case may be, however, people typically experience some type of reaction to the change of the seasons, andoften dread moving into a long, cold winter. There are many ways to combat this issue, including taling regularly with a therapist or someone else you trust, to even investing in a sun lamp that will help expose you to healthy ultraviolet rays during times when you cannot get enough sun. These are relatively inexpensive (usually under $200) and can often be a boon for those really suffering from SAD. For the rest of us, who may simply be a little blue because of the beginning of school, the loss of the warm weather, or the fear of monster snowstorms, make sure that ouy stay connected with the outside world, try to take a nice sun vacation in the middle of the winter if you can manage, and keep doing all of the other things that make you feel healthy and well, such as eating well and exercising regularly.

-Dr. Kulic