You may know the feeling. Christmas is over, the decorations are down, the excitement has dimmed and what you are left with is… winter. For some people, the season of cold temperatures is a welcome respite from the sun and heat of summer. For others, the short, dark days and cold nights of winter bring fatigue, reduced energy, and even depression. For Texans, it’s even more complicated when one week can include Summer days, Winter nights, and Spring allergens. It’s a recipe for illness.
According to the Mayo Clinic, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) affects between 4 and 6% of people in the US while another 10-20% experience some form of winter-onset depression. While SAD, the “winter blues” in its most severe form, is treated with light therapy and in some cases medication, there are alternatives to pharmaceuticals that can alleviate the most troublesome winter depression symptoms.
Exercise
It may seem counter-intuitive, but the best way to cure the fatigue that accompanies seasonal depression is exercise. No, we’re not talking about battling New Year’s Resolution crowds at the gym, but rather finding ways to exercise outside. Hiking or other outdoor exercise can provide much-needed UV rays which lead to Vitamin D production. As an added bonus, exercise floods the brain with feel-good chemicals leaving you feeling less fatigued, not more.
Eat A Healthy Diet
Yes, we all indulged a little too much on Aunt Marge’s fudge during the holidays, but that’s behind us. Time to start anew, beginning with your fruit and vegetable intake. In fact, according to the CDC, only 14% of adults are getting their 5 servings of fruit and vegetables a day. Not only are they packed with fiber, helping you stay on track with your new year’s goals, fruits and vegetables are loaded with vitamins and minerals that help you maintain a healthy brain and body chemistry.
Chiropractic Wellness Care
At its core, seasonal depression stresses the body. One of the best ways to combat this is by engaging in a wellness routine that includes chiropractic care. Not only does it alleviate any muscle aches and pains, chiropractic care also eliminates subluxations, or disruptions in the nervous system. When the nervous system is allowed to function properly, other symptoms of seasonal depression, such as mild aches and pains, can be alleviated.
Want more information on how to treat your winter blues without medication? Call Sandstone or schedule your comprehensive exam with x-rays online.
