Chloe P.
Samia Shahnawaz
Last year, when I began receiving treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), it hadn’t occurred to me that I was trapped in a nasty cycle of physical and mental health neglect. My doctor helped me understand the mind-body connection and explained how I was feeling physically would affect my mental health and vice versa. With the help of my doctor and therapist, I’ve found some great ways to fight SAD whenever it starts rearing its ugly head. Here are a few things that have worked for me and links that I recommend to get yourself started.
Meditation and yoga .When left unchecked, we have a tendency to focus on the negative. Mindfulness helps us to focus on the present moment and worry less about what could happen. But it doesn’t come easy. I’ve discovered that a daily meditation and yoga practice helps me be more mindful while also helping me become physically stronger. In winter months, I start each morning with a 15-minute meditation and 30-minute yoga session. http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/fifteen-simple-ways-overcome-depression-and-sadness.html
“When left unchecked, we have a tendency to focus on the negative. Mindfulness helps us to focus on the present moment and worry less about what could happen.”
Eat healthy. After telling my doctor what I’d been eating, how often (or not) I’d been exercising, and how poorly I’d been sleeping, she also diagnosed me with adrenal fatigue, a condition that can knock your adrenal glands, which are responsible for balancing your hormones, out of whack. The result is that you feel tired, irritable, and depressed among other things. My doctor put me on an adrenal fatigue diet that helped me reduce my sugar intake and ensure I was getting enough protein.
“It hadn’t occurred to me that I was trapped in a nasty cycle of physical and mental health neglect. ”
Laugh it up. It may not be as physically strenuous as running a 5K, but laughing burns calories—10 – 40 (after 10 – 15 minutes) to be exact. And more importantly, it helps us feel better by boosting our heart rate and our mood. So, when the weather turns cold and gloomy, I watch one of my favorite funny movies or give my friend, Karen, who always has a hilarious story to share, a call. http://www.webmd.com/balance/features/give-your-body-boost-with-laughter
Get plenty of exercise. When the time changes, it’s dark when I get home from work, so the end-of-the-day run I like to go on becomes a little more difficult. I prefer not to run outside at night, and the treadmill in the exercise room of my apartment complex just doesn’t feel the same. My doctor suggested I try swimming. She noted that it’s a great cardio workout and because of the repetitive nature of swim strokes, it also has a meditative quality. So, I got a membership at my local Y, and now after work, I head over for a swim. It’s a great way to clear my head after a long day and is a great mood booster.
http://www.intheswim.com/eGuides/burning-calories-in-the-pool
To quote my amazing and quite funny therapist, SAD is “a real bummer.” But it doesn’t have to ruin your winter or the warmer months to come. Seek out body and mind strengthening practices that work for you, and you’ll find that while the days may be shorter, they’re overflowing with joy and happiness.