Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

In winter lots of people may feel low or down in the dumps.
This is a wintertime disorder called SAD that makes you feel depressed.

Not enough sunlight and the very short days of winter leave people feeling very low and miserable, very depressed, always tired and lacking in energy. People suffering from this condition compensate for it through increased eating, which means they put on more weight, lose their sex drive, and, as they don't feel good about themselves and lack energy, they don't feel like working or find it hard to concentrate at work.

The answer to this common problem is to take more exercise or spend more time walking or running, or to perform any activity which gets your Heart rate above the resting Heart rate (which is 60 to 80 heartbeats per min for most people).

Sunlight and adequate daylight are believed to boost the levels of the "feel good factor". Also eating well, having enough sleep and taking regular exercise. Plenty of fruit and veg will boost energy levels and lift your spirit and mood. A fruit I recommend is the Banana, which contains Tryptophan, which the Body converts into Serotonin. Studies have shown that as spring comes along and the days get longer, symptoms of SAD disappear.