Winter Blues-3 Tips From The Rawdawg

Winter Blues otherwise known as Seasonal Affective Disorder(SAD) is a real form of depression that relates to the changing seasons. SAD usually occurs during the winter months for most people and if you are anything like @rawdawg, these symptoms begin in mid-late November and last through the winter months slowly subsiding in late February. The specific causes of SAD are unknown, however they attribute a few different causes to the condition. 

CAUSES

• Your biological clock (circadian rhythm). A reduced level of sunlight in fall and winter may cause winter-onset SAD. The decrease in sunlight disrupts the body's internal clock leading to depression.
• Serotonin levels. A drop in serotonin levels caused by reduced sunlight can lead to depression.
• Melatonin levels. The change in the season can cause the body's level of melatonin to drop which regulates sleep and mood .

@Rawdawg experiences a few of the below symptoms such as feeling sluggish, depressed, sleeping issues, and low energy. In my experience I also live in a cold weather state so not only is there very little daylight, but it is also freezing outside so I believe that adds to the winter blues. One of the symptoms of SAD is thoughts of death or suicide. If you are feeling like harming yourself because of this condtion, please seek medical attention. This can be serious and I know first hand how it can really mess with a person's head. 

Signs and Symptoms:

• Feeling depressed nearly every day.
• Loss of interest in activities
• Low Energy
• Sleep problems
• Changes in appetite or weight
• Sluggish 
• Concentration Problems
• Feeling hopeless, worthless or guilty
• Thoughts of death or suicide

@RAWDAWG TREATMENT METHODS:

I am not a doctor and this advice should not be taken as medical advice, but I do have personal experience with this particular condition and I would like to share the things that work for me. 

• Light Therapy has worked very well in my experience. Basically you buy a light that is designed to help with the condition and sit in front of it everyday. You can Google, "Light Therapy" and locate a particular light that is in your price range. They can vary. This method works very well and starts to kick in within a few days to a couple of weeks. 
• @rawdawg has noticed that one of the things that has caused part of his depression when experiencing SAD, is mind wandering and racing thoughts. I recommend taking up a good meditation technique such as Self Inquiry or if meditation is not your thing, then look into the teachings of Byron Katie. She has a program called "The Work" that helps manage your thoughts. 
• Gratitude List. As tough as this may sound when you are feeling like shit, you have to make a commitment to it. Grab a notebook, pen, and begin writing down 2-3 things you are grateful for each day. Keep this notebook somewhere handy so you can review it. This definitely helps alleviate some of the depression and sadness. 

I know first hand how difficult the Winter Blues are. I experience a mild form of depression every year. The 3 tips above work for me extremely well. I recommend you give them a try and if they don't help and you feel like things are getting really bad, make sure to see a doctor. I wish you the best of luck and hang in there, spring is 3 months away. .