Winters are cozy! However, you might experience a mood disorder during the winter period. Staying inside the home for a long time and the change in weather might cause seasonal depression. In clinical terms, it is known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Some people call it winter blues too. No matter what you want to name it, preventing yourself from such suffering becomes essential as it affects your moods.
Types of Mood Disorders
As said just before, mood disorders can be called by different names. You can go through the following names to find out the types of mood disorders:
- Cyclothymia
- Depressive mood disorder
- Cyclothymic disorder
- Dysthymic disorder
- Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder
- Mood dysphoric
- Sad disorder
- Mood swing disorder
- Anxiety mood disorder
- Major recurrent depressive disorder
Seasonal Affective Disorder Symptoms
When you become a victim of Seasonal Affective Disorder, you start feeling anxious, depressed, lack energy, and probably carry negative thoughts. And, when you feel no enthusiasm, you don’t feel like focussing on anything including your work and relationships.
Most people can’t even find out if they are going through any seasonal depression. By knowing the following symptoms, you can detect the sadness killing you:
- You lose interest in those activities you enjoyed once.
- Have difficulties concentrating on your work.
- You feel sad almost throughout the day.
- Your energy goes low and you don’t feel enthusiastic anymore.
- Poor sleeping pattern is also an indication.
- You crave carbohydrates or overeat.
- Feel guilty, worthless, or hopeless.
10 Ways to Deal with Seasonal Affective Disorder
Although it is pretty common to feel sad due to changing seasons, you can still take some simple actions to beat the winter blues.
1. Take Advantage of Sunlight
Days are shorter in the winter season. Moreover, it is colder due to which people tend to avoid going out. This brings a deficiency of vitamin D to your body.
According to the research, people with low vitamin D become the victim of Seasonal Affective Disorder. This has a direct impact on your mood which results in winter depression.
Therefore, it is so important to get enough sunlight because sunlight helps you to ease depression. As you sit under the sun, your mood improves. Also, the fresh air can cheer you up.
2. Exercise at Home
Lying under a blanket and not moving your body the entire day will only make you lazy in the winter season. Thus, movement is necessary to keep your body active.
You should try out some workout sessions and basic exercises at home. This will not only make you fit but also help you to deal with Seasonal Affective Disorder or winter blues.
3. Get Some Warmth
Your shivering body might not feel like working in the winter, of course. However, if you stay warm, your stress or depression can be reduced.
To deal with a mood disorder in the winter season, you can grab some hot drinks, i.e., coffee, soups, and tea. Besides that, you should cover yourself properly. Along with this, it is equally important to keep your room temperature warm. If you do the aforementioned, you can easily boost your mood.
4. Eat Properly
Some of you may lose appetite because of sadness or mood disorder. This is normal to experience in winter blues. However, it will reduce your energy. Consequently, you become the victim of Seasonal Affective Disorder.
By balancing your carbohydrate intake, you can deal with winter depression easily. All you have to do is take care of your diet; have fruits, vegetables, and eat healthy food items.
5. Keep Maintaining Your Relations
In the state of being sad, you barely like to meet people or talk to them. Not connecting with your loved ones can make you feel alone and sad. Keep in mind, being in isolation mode won’t help you to deal with Seasonal Affective Disorder.
Rather, talk to your people, share your griefs, or be in touch with them. Spending time with your close ones always makes you feel better. This way you can easily deal with seasonal mood disorders while maintaining healthy relationships with your people.
6. Plan a Sunny Trip
Wouldn’t it be great to go out with your family or friends to sunnier climates? For sure it will. If you have been feeling sad or depressed, you can cheer yourself up by planning a vacation. Spending a few days in a tropical environment can promote emotional health.
7. Indulge in Activities
Instead of lying on the couch, you should find some activities to indulge yourself in the winter season. Grab your favorite book, play instruments, join the gym, make your journal, and do anything that makes you happy.
Self-love techniques can also be tried as this will help you to connect with yourself. As a result, you don’t get depressed or sad in cold seasons.
8. Act of Kindness
Studies have proved that people who practice the daily act of kindness experience happiness for sure. The moment you show your kindness to people, this makes them smile. Consequently, it soothes your heart and you feel happy.
Making such small changes to your daily life can make significant changes to your mood. Above all, it promotes positivity in your mind. This way you can beat the winter blue easily.
9. Laugh More
As is well known, laughing is considered the best medicine to remain happy and healthy. If you have been experiencing mood disorders in the winter season, you should try laughing more often.
When you laugh more, it releases serotonin and endorphins which help in reducing stress and lift spirits. To increase the laughter, you can read funny books, watch comedy shows or movies, and meet your jolly friend who can keep you jolly too.
10. Speak to Your Doctor
Even after you have done everything from your end and still not be able to overcome sadness, contact your doctor. By talking to your doctor, you can determine if you need any therapy. Then, take action accordingly.
Winding Up!
We all feel low from time to time. Experiencing mood disorders in the winter season is no exception. However, if it’s been a long time facing sadness, you should definitely do something about it. To kill your winter blues, you can pick any of the activities specified above. These ideas will surely help you to overcome Seasonal Affective Disorder.
