Around six to seven percent of the population reports experiencing some of the most extreme symptoms of seasonal affected disorder, such as clinical depression, cravings for and overeating of carbohydrates, excessive sleeping, heightened sensitivity to pain, significant weight gain, social withdrawal, loss of interest in people or things normally enjoyed, lack of motivation or a profound sadness. There are natural ways to combat the debilitating symptoms.

Although you may or may not be aware of it, the main indications of SAD have a rather straightforward and natural approach to treatment. Through direct exposure of the eyes and skin to sunlight, many of the issues associated with seasonal affective disorder simply fade away. Direct sunlight is really the only way to reap the benefits, as sunlight which penetrates through glass offers very little, if any, noticeable benefits.

For many people who have seasonal affected disorder and live in the Northern Hemisphere, symptoms of winter depression coinciding with shorter daylight hours can definitely be a problem. The further you live from the equator, the less sunlight exposure will be available. A minimum amount of sunlight exposure is needed for your body to produce enough vitamin D through your skin. In extreme northern areas of the world, the amount of sun exposure is cut rather short, to only around three to four months out of a year.

If you are depressed in winter and it’s not possible to expose yourself to more sunlight owing to where you reside or what you do for a living, there are still a number of things you could do to get control of the misery of SAD in a natural fashion. Most of these effective strategies will make a difference and may even eliminate the need for antidepressants.

For the most part, the main way to relieve the symptoms of seasonal affected disorder has already been mentioned. On a mild and sunny winter’s day, push back your sleeves and expose your arms, hands and face to the sun when you get the opportunity. Though tanning beds are another option, do be careful not to overdo them. If you have a yearly problem with this, investing in light boxes for bright light therapy works for many. You can build one yourself if you are a good handyman. Another option is to turn one room in your home into a sun room by installing the UV light bulbs in your fixtures.

Lots of people are prone to depression throughout the dark months of winter. Winter depression, also called seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is a condition that many people suffer with every year. If you are unfamiliar with this disorder, but you suspect that you or a loved one might have it, visit our site to learn more about beating winter depression.

Tags: Mental Health

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