winter blues

During this time of year many moms go through what is known as 'winter blues' .

'Winter blues, also known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD), is a real condition, "a depression that occurs yearly, usually starting in fall or winter and ending in spring or early summer," explains Douglas Jacobs, MD, an associate clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. The seasonal decrease of daylight may cause an imbalance of the hormone melatonin, which helps regulate our sleep-wake cycle.December, January and February are often the worst months for SAD sufferers. Symptoms include excessive sleeping, difficulty staying awake, overeating, weight gain, fatigue, loss of interest in things you usually like to do and feelings of sadness, apathy and irritability. Women are at a higher risk for SAD, making up 70 to 80 percent of the estimated 10 to 20 percent of Americans who experience it. If your case of SAD is mild, you may get relief by increasing your exposure to sunlight. Take walks outside in the morning and during lunch, sit by a window when you can—while you get ready for work, during your commute or at the office—and take breaks outside or near a window frequently throughout the workday. For more severe cases, research suggests artificial light therapy might help reduce the symptoms of SAD in 50 to 80 percent of sufferers. Further options include psychotherapy and antidepressants. '

By: Michele Bender