Beating the Winter Blues

While sitting on the couch with my wife yesterday, she mentioned to me that she just feels sad.  Sad?  I asked.  Yes, sad.  Being the therapist that I am, I starting asking her more questions in order to get to the reason for her sadness.  In the end, all we could really come up with is that it was cold, cloudy, and just plain dreary.  She seems to get this way every time the weather looks like doom and gloom.  We believe she suffers from Seasonal Affective Disorder, also known as S.A.D.

S.A.D. affects many of us who are stuck in a the house because it is too cold and dreary to go outside.  Days without seeing the sun has an effect on almost all of us.   SO, how do we beat it?

The answer is not that surprising. Here is a small list of what we can do to help keep the winter blues at bay.

1. Exercise More.
2. Start a hobby.
3. Connect with family and friends.
4. If involved in a particular faith, become more active.
5. Meditate and visualize yourself be warmed by the summer sun.
6. Not recommended because of the cancer risk, but it does help -   Tanning beds.
7. Last but not least,  vitamin D.

If you can think of any other ways to beat the winter blues, let me know.

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