HEALTH & LIFESTYLE
Your Guide
To Managing Seasonal Depression During The Darker Months
BY ROBYN SONG
Vitamin D
You get less Vitamin D from the sun in the winter, and Vitamin D deficiency symptoms can include anxiety, depression, muscle pain, and hair loss. You can help prevent this by eating common sources of vitamin D like animal products including eggs, yogurt, and meat, or by taking supplements.
Omega-3
Those suffering from mental health ailments like depression are often deficient in omega-3s, and adding it to your diet can mitigate the low mood caused by seasonal depression. You can get more omega-3 from fish, nuts, seeds, eggs, and supplements.
Light Therapy
For years, experts have suggested artificial lightboxes as a tool to ease into the darker days, as lack of sunlight can be bad for seasonal depression. "What light therapy does is compensate for the lack of exposure that we get from natural sunlight," psychologist Adam Borland stated.
Spend Time Outdoors
Going outdoors can be particularly beneficial for seasonal depression sufferers, as people who spend less time outdoors have higher incidences of depression and anxiety. "Seeing color in nature […] and getting direct sunlight exposure, all of these things are good for mental health," says Dr. Kelly Rohan.
Exercise
Exercise is one of the most valuable tools available and can be vital in beating seasonal depression. The first step is often the hardest when setting new routines, so start small and begin with low-intensity workouts to avoid burning yourself out.