Winter......it's still here.

Brrrrr.........it's cold. And we're expecting snow. What's new?

It's been mildly entertaining watching the rest of the country deal with the storm that hit (though I realize it's no fun for them!).....and even more entertaining to hear all the Buffalonians brag about how well-equipped we are to deal with it.
Well, friends, I'm not feeling equipped.
I don't like snow unless I'm snowboarding on it. I don't find being cold very pleasant either-- it makes it harder to get out of bed. And the shower.

But here's the deal-- we have winter in Buffalo. We get snow. It gets cold, dark and windy.......
And right about now, all over our dark, snowy, windy city, the winter blues are in full effect for many of us.
Most of us have heard of the winter blues, or Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). I often hear it joked about on the radio, or hear it brought up casually in groups of friends. It makes sense that when we are kept from being more active, and need to stay indoors away from the sun that we will inevitably get down, or feel moody. So, seasonal affective disorder is easy to identify with-- and to casually speak about.  But, here you run the risk of minimizing a legitimate, sometimes disabling, condition.

I want to take a look at what it is that defines SAD versus just having a case of cabin fever, or dealing with the 'winter blues.'  It is very important for those if us who are dealing with a deeper depression, or who may have friends or family going through this, to understand more fully what can be done to alleviate symptoms and get us on a track to wellness.
Mayoclinic.com cites these as symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder:

   "* Depression (intense and prolonged sadness)
    * Hopelessness
    * Anxiety
    * Loss of energy
    * Social withdrawal
    * Oversleeping
    * Loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed
    * Appetite changes, especially a craving for foods high in carbohydrates
    * Weight gain
    * Difficulty concentrating and processing information "mayoclinic.com

What makes these symptoms different than those of a clinical depression is that "Seasonal affective disorder is a cyclic, seasonal condition. This means that signs and symptoms come back and go away at the same time every year. Usually, seasonal affective disorder symptoms appear during late fall or early winter and go away during the sunnier days of spring and summer." Mayoclinic.com

Does this sound like you? If so, don't just brush it off as something you 'have to get through. The above symptoms are much more than a bad day or a bad mood. We must recognize when we need to step up to take better care of ourselves, or we can be set up for a bigger problem in the end.

If you are struggling with your day to day activities, then your problem with seasonal depression may be more real than you think. It's time to reach out for some help.


For those of us who are struggling to a lesser degree, here are some suggestions to help us get a jump start on those happier springtime days!!

Set goals: even one goal a day-- like, "go through the mail to find bills."  will feel great to accomplish.
Sleep: Make sure that you're not sleeping too much or too little. Use an alarm clock or nap!!
Exercise: just taking the stairs, parking farther from your destination, or walking a block to the next bus stop can make a big difference.
Forgiveness: staying upset takes a lot of energy-- finding forgiveness for whoever, or whatever it is you find you're angry about frees up your energy for things more focused on wellness.

Gratitude: I'm a big fan of the gratitude list-- writing five things down per day that you are thankful for. It will change your brain chemistry- and your attitude!
Sunlight: it may not seem to be there-- but it is! UV rays can get through the clouds, so get out there!! 
Hydration: it's highly likely you are not getting the amount of water your body need each day. Drink more water!
Friendships: Lean on your support system- call your Compeer!Everyone wants to be heard, appreciated, and loved. Start off by listening, appreciating and loving, and it will come back your way.

Let's hear about how you get through the winter months.....is it a struggle? How have you been able to keep going? 

-Jennifer