The battle with Seasonal Affective Disorder often
goes unnoticed for thousands of Americans. SAD,
both a feeling and a diagnosis, is a type of depression
that often impacts individuals in the winter months.
Though every individual may experience it differently,
SAD typically shows symptoms of deflated mood,
changing in sleep, loss of appetite, difficulty with
concentrating, and irritability, to name a few. SAD
can be scary, especially if you are unaware if it is
affecting you or not. The good news is, there are so
many solutions to help find relief for seasonal depression
including sunlight, nutrition, and exercise.
Sunlight: Humans really are like plants-we need adequate water and sunlight to grow. In the winter months, there is less sunlight, which causes a decrease in our ability to get vitamin D form the sun. Help yourself by going outside. Even if it is cold or cloudy, sunlight is still powerful enough to make its way to you. Taking short, daily walks outside can significantly increase your vitamin D in the winter.
Nutrition: Our gut and our brain are directly connected. This means that our nutrition is crucial to our mental health. Especially when experiencing SAD, getting sufficient micro (vitamins, minerals, essential amino acids) and macro (proteins, carbs, fats) nutrients is so important to helping regulate our mood and supply us with energy.
Exercise: For us at SPENGA Dayton, this might be our favorite way to decrease SAD symptoms. Exercise has endless benefits for your body, mind, and soul. Exercise is one of the top ways to increase your mood and regulate your emotions, decreasing symptoms of SAD. Whether it’s going for a walk outside, shoveling snow, or attending a group fitness class (spin, yoga, HIIT), engaging in at least 30 minutes of exercise daily can uplift your mood and support your mental health.
Emily Ruebelman
SPENGA Dayton
1526 Miamisburg Centerville Road
Washington Township, Ohio 45459
