WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR A MOOD-LIFT?

By DR VICKI BISMILLA

If you use a search engine such as  Google Scholar or Dogpile to look up Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), you will find a number of scholarly articles based on research studies on this topic.

The clinical studies vary in participants and methods, but seem consistent in labelling the disorder a syndrome that occurs mainly in northern winters where sunshine is lacking. The symptoms often occur at the same time each year and are more than just winter blues. When doctors are consulted, a range of treatments may be prescribed including light therapy or medication.

Seasonal Affective Disorder is the feeling of sadness and anxiety, sometimes bordering on depression, that many people suffer in our bleak winters. But not everyone will be diagnosed, nor will everyone consult medical professionals.

For many years I pushed aside the feelings of listlessness, anxiety and feeling down and blue in the depths of winter. But recently I have started to take note of the patterns.

While not all episodes of SAD are cases of depression, the feelings of helpless sadness are real.

Advice and tips offered in articles, books, health clinic websites, etc., nudge people to try and spend some time outside each day to get more natural light and to consciously find ways to improve their moods.

In addition to sunshine, we need to deliberately undertake activities that uplift us, make us smile, laugh, feel fulfilled, feel useful and feel joy. Many people enjoy reading so we immerse ourselves in books at home or at the library together with like-minded book lovers. I find my quiet morning diya prayers spiritually calming. Yoga enthusiasts get spiritual, mental and physical sustenance from their regular practice.

In the pre-COVID-19 days, community centres offered group activities or the opportunity to just meet and chat with people. Those of us who like exercise routines made a point of going to the gym or simply driving to a mall to walk, not necessarily to shop.

Mall walking also gave one the opportunity to see other people busily getting on with their lives.

These are no longer possible due to restrictions to help prevent the spread of infections, but there are other things we can do that will help lift the mood.

Many of us who don’t mind winter weather walk outside each day. Any such activity that gives us some sun, some exercise, some fresh air or just seeing nature and other people can uplift our spirits. There are usually parks with trees near most residential areas so a daily walk, even a short walk in winter, is beneficial. I am not a medical professional and I do not and cannot offer health advice. But I do know that in the dark winter months, on the rare occasions when I look at bright sunshine, it lifts my mood and makes me smile.

Many people who experience SAD find that their symptoms affect their work and social interactions. All the scholarly articles that I looked at stressed the importance of light. While medically controlled light therapy for those people under the care of professional health practitioners involve artificial lights, the studies do point to the advantages of getting out daily into natural sunlight, especially in the morning hours. This is good advice for all of us.

While many people experience SAD during the winter months, the studies claim that a small number of people also experience the mood disorder in the changeover from winter to spring with accompanying changes in mood, sleep and eating patterns.

It is very important to see your doctor if you or your loved ones feel that your symptoms are worrisome.