Beating the Winter Blues

No-one likes dragging themselves out of bed when it’s cold and dark outside, and most of us get a little down in winter. Now it seems there’s an official term for the winter blues – Seasonal Affective Disorder, or (ahem) “SAD.” Whatever you want to call it, Dr Richard has provided a useful link to a Wall Street Journal article about the causes of winter blues and what we can do to fight them off.

The WSJ article discusses a number of theories about why depression increases during the winter months: “One theory suggests that the reduced light disrupts peoples' circadian rhythms, the 24-hour biological clock that governs waking, sleeping and many other body functions. Another theory holds that the darkness wreaks havoc with neurotransmitters—brain chemicals that affect mood. Some experts believe the reduced sun exacerbates vitamin D deficiencies. It may also be that SAD has several different causes.”

The article details various ways to combat bleak winter moods, including extreme measures like anti-depressants. Healthier and more useful tips for most of us include regular outdoor exercise to ensure exposure to sunlight (assuming the sun isn’t completely blocked out by Beijing’s fog and pollution), sticking to a light diet and resisting the urge to gorge on carbohydrates, and vitamin D supplements.

Another recent Wall Street Journal article discusses the growing body of research that suggests regular exercise also helps boost the immune system, increasing the chances of fighting off common winter ailments like colds.

For those suffering serious depression, Dr. Richard also discusses the option of cognitive behavioral therapy, which is practiced by Dr Mike Mehrvarz at the International Medical Center here in Beijing.