A Natural Approach To Health
Living With Seasonal Affective Disorder
I had a question the other day about seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
This is something I’ve dealt with personally.
But, I implemented the suggestions I talk about below and I’ve been much better.
Seasonal affective disorder is a type of depression affecting you during the same season each year.
If you get depressed in the winter, but feel much better in the spring and summer you may have SAD.
Anyone can get SAD, but it’s more common in:
-People who live in areas where winter days are very short or there are big changes in the amount of daylight in different seasons.
-Women.
-People between the ages of 15 and 55.
-People who have a close relative with SAD.
Researchers aren’t sure what causes SAD, but it might be caused by a lack of sunlight.
Lack of light may upset your sleep-wake cycle and other circadian rhythms.
And it may cause problems with a brain chemical called serotonin affecting mood.
Symptoms of SAD include feeling sad, grumpy, moody or anxious; loss of interest in your usual activities; eating more and craving carbohydrates, like bread and pasta; gaining weight; and sleeping more and feeling drowsy during the daytime.
Symptoms come and go at about the same time each year.
For most people with SAD, symptoms start in the fall and end in the spring.
The most effective treatment for SAD is light therapy.
You can sit in front of a “light box” for half an hour in the morning.
Or, you can use have a dim light go on in the morning while you sleep and have it get brighter over time, light a sunrise.
Or, you can aim a penlight directly at your pineal gland (just above and between your eyebrows) for 15 minutes each day.
Or, you can use full-spectrum lighting, which is what I did in my office.
Because I work from home and my office at the time was in the basement the full-spectrum lighting helped immensely.
Light therapy works well for most people with SAD, and it’s easy to use.
But you need to stick with it and use it every day until the season changes.
To deal with SAD it’s beneficial to:
*Drink 6-8 cups of purified water daily.
*Lemon balm is good for your stomach and digestive organs during stressful situations.
*Ginger, oat straw, and peppermint may be helpful herbs.
*Eat a diet including plenty of raw organic fruits and vegetables, with soybeans and soy products, 100% whole grains, seeds, nuts, brown rice, millet, and legumes. A diet too low in complex carbohydrates can cause serotonin depletion and depression.
*If you’re nervous and want to become more relaxed, eat more complex carbohydrates. Eat protein meals containing essential fatty acids. The omega-3 fatty acids in particular are very necessary for healthy bodies and minds. Salmon, tuna, mackerel, and whitefish are good choices.
*Eat food like turkey, which is high in tryptophan and protein.
*Omit wheat products from your diet. Wheat gluten has been linked to depressive disorders in those who don’t tolerate gluten protein.
*Avoid diet sodas and other products containing aspartame (NutraSweet, Equal, etc.). This blocks the formation of serotonin and causes headaches, insomnia, and depression in people who’re already serotonin-deprived.
*Limit your intake of products containing phenylalanine. This is one of the major components of aspartame.
*Avoid foods high in saturated fats. Eating meat or fried foods, like hamburgers and French fries, leads to sluggishness, slow thinking, and fatigue. They interfere with blood flow by causing your arteries and small blood vessels to become blocked and your blood cells to become sticky and tend to clump together, resulting in poor circulation, especially to your brain.
*Avoid all forms of sugar, including normally “good” sweeteners like honey, molasses, and fruit juice. Your body reacts more quickly to the presence of sugar than it does to the presence of complex carbohydrates. The increase in energy supplied by the simple carbohydrates (sugars) is quickly followed by fatigue and depression. Stevia, a concentrated natural sweetener doesn’t have the same effect on your body as sugar, and doesn’t have the side effects of artificial sugar substitutes.
*Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and processed foods.
*Investigate the possibility of food allergies causing or contributing to your symptoms.
*Have a hair analysis does to rule out heavy metal toxicity.
*Keep your mind active, and get plenty of rest and regular exercise. Avoid stressful situations.
*Learn to recognize, and then “reroute” negative thinking patterns.
*Try to eliminate body pollution.
If you’re dealing with seasonal affective disorder, try these (100% money-back guarantee):
It’s essential to use: Vita-Lea, Protein, Mood Lift Complex, Stress Relief Complex, B-Complex, Vitamin D, Optiflora.
It’s important to use: Lecithin, OmegaGuard, DTX, Herb-Lax, Alfalfa, Mental Acuity, Calcium/Magnesium, VitalMag.
It’s beneficial to use: CoQHeart, Zinc, CorEnergy, Gentle Sleep Complex, Vivix.
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email: lenay@dickandlenay.com
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