6 Tips to Combat Seasonal Affective Disorder

It is that time of year when Seasonal Affective Disorder,  also known as SAD, shows its ugly head. Seasonal Affective Disorder, a type of depression, is experienced during the fall and winter. Most people begin experiencing the disorder when the days begin to shorten.

I’m going to share 6 tips to combat Seasonal Affective Disorder with you. You can do may things on your own such as, light therapy, CBD Oil, Gummies or Lotion but psychotherapy or medication may be needed in addition.  Always check with your doctor for treatment.  I am sharing with you what has worked really well for our family who are affected with this disorder.

6 tips to combat Seasonal Affective Disorder:

TIP 1. Light Therapy – Light Therapy has been the number 1 thing that has helped our family who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder.

This is the SAD lamp that I use and it is recommended by my mental health professional.  All you need is 15 – 20 minutes daily, first thing in the morning when you get up – sit in front of this light or another SAD lamp that has 10,000 lux of light.

You can purchase a lamp on your own but if you have a prescription from your health care provider, it is covered by insurance. We have used our lights for about 15 years and the light bulbs are still going strong!   My husband, son and myself each have our own light therapy lamp just like the one shown above!

Dawn Simulator – These are awesome little devices that you set on your bedside table. They wake you up slowly by using a series of increasingly bright light. So when it’s time to get up, the light is at its brightest, waking you up gradually.

TIP 2. CBD Topicals, edibles and oil – is the 2nd line of products that has greatly reduced my depression from seasonal affective disorder.  I prefer to take oil drops which are highly effective for me.  But, many people enjoy the ease and flavor of edibles.  Whereas, many others prefer to soothe the blues with Martha Stewart Topical CBD lotions.

TIP 3. Vitamin D – Vitamin D deficiency is suggested to be one of the major factors in seasonal affective disorder. Think about the amount of time that you spend inside or unable to get into the sun. If you are in the sun you slather on sunscreen – you could be deficient!  I was and I spent hours in the sun!

A physician or health care provider orders a specific blood test to see if you are clinically deficient.  IF you are, adding  supplemental Vitamin D3, “Cholecalciferol” and monitoring your blood levels will help you. See my story of how I found that I had a Vitamin D level of 11!

Tip 4. Exercise – Keep yourself moving, even though you don’t want to! Exercise releases endorphins, which are proven to improve mood. Go for a quick walk outside at lunchtime or find an exercise video online or on-demand.

Get Outside When the Sunshine is the Brightest – When it’s dark and cold outside, it’s so hard to want to look out into the world. However, it’s best to keep curtains or blinds open during the midday for when there is sunshine. If the sun is out,  get out and do your exercise to get the most exposure possible.

Tip 5. Get Enough Sleep – Your rhythms are already disturbed by the change in the season, so get extra sleep by going to bed earlier and getting up at the same time every day.

Tip 6. Eat properly – Be sure to follow a balanced diet with a variety of healthy foods. Include as much fresh food as possible, especially fruits and vegetables. Eat foods in a multitude of colors!

These are just a few simple tips that everyone can do to feel better through the winter.  Even if you don’t have seasonal affective disorder, we all want to feel our best.

**I am affiliated with Canopy Growth.  I also USE Martha Stewart CBD oil produced by Canopy Growth and highly recommend all their products.   Shop at Canopy Growth to get your CBD Isolate oil, Softgels, Gummies and Creams!