Feeling SAD?

When winter rolls around happiness feels a bit dimmer. Here's how to keep up your summer spirit when the sun disappears...

Dreary days and scant natural light can be murder on your motivation and alter your circadian rhythm, leaving you short on the mood-boosting hormone serotonin. In fact, some 15 million people (three-fourths of them women) suffer from a depressive condition called seasonal affective disorder (SAD), which can have symptoms like low energy, carb cravings, weight gain, and dwindling sex drive. SAD's severity can vary from totally manageable to life-disrupting, says Michael Terman, Ph.D., director of the Center for Light Treatment and Biological Rhythms at Columbia University Medical Center.

If you spend the majority of your days indoors, consider investing in a light box packed with superbright white fluorescent bulbs; it can elevate your serotonin levels and reset your internal clock to a spring/summer schedule, says Terman. Position the gadget above your line of sight, angled downward toward your head, and flip it on each morning for about 30 minutes while you eat breakfast or check your e-mail. Although you don't need a prescription, it's best to have a powwow with a mental health doctor before buying a light box—she can make sure you get the correct-intensity bulbs (generally, 10,000 lux) that properly filter out harmful UV rays.

Last updated: Thu, 2012-06-07 09:51

View the original article here