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Are You Beating the Winter Blues or Lost in the Twilight Zone?
By MargueRite

Are you happy-go-lucky, feeling normal for certain months of the year and then suddenly your mood has changed, your energy level drops and your motivation level is zilch? You may be up against more than just beating the winterblues.

If you are hitting your lows in the winter months and bouncing back in the spring, you may be suffering from symptoms of seasonal affective disorder (SAD). SAD is thought to be related to a chemical imbalance in the brain that occurs during the shorter days of winter when there is a lack of sunlight. Lack of morning light is of particular significance because this is the light that regulatesour body clocks.

Those afflicted with SAD really have to push themselves in winter months in what is usually a fruitless attempt at beating the winter blues. They may have trouble getting up, drink twice as much coffee and have to make a concentrate effort to focus on theirwork.

Then along comes summer time and symptoms of seasonal affective disorder seem to disappear. With the increase in daylight hours comes a rejuvenated burst ofenergy.

Depending on where you live, you may experience different levels of SAD. I live in Seattle where rain and overcast skies are a part of life. By mid-November, even those who do not necessarily suffer from light deprivation, are beginning to sink into the doldrums. For many, hitting the snooze button each morningbecomes automatic.

So, how do you know if you are truly suffering from SAD or if it's just a bad case of beating the winter blues?

If feelings of depression, exhaustion and lack of interest in people and regular activities is interfering with your outlook on life and ability to function properly, you could be a victim.

Getting up at the same time every day can help to keep your body on track. While sleeping in on weekend mornings may feel like a luxury, it throws the body clock off making Monday morning wake-up even more difficult than it already is.

Get outside during the winter as much as possible, even on those dreary, overcast days. It's important to expose your eyes to natural light for at least one hour each day. If you work inside an office, take a walk outside during your lunch hour. When at home, open the blinds to letin natural light.

If SAD is interfering with your life, light therapy can be a very effective treatment. The latest device is a headband containing mounted lights that delivers light to your retina whether you are inside or outdoors.

On the other hand, if dark mornings and dreary days only manifest as a seasonal funk in your life, don't despair. While some days must be dark and dreary, behind the clouds the sun is still shining and soon this challenge of beating the winter blues will come topass.

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