Winter Hygiene
Dr. Ruddy, ND
Inner Fire Yoga Teacher
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a diagnostic term which first came to light (so to speak) in 1984, describes a mood affliction aggravated during the winter before subsiding in the spring. Common SAD symptoms include increased carbohydrate/starch craving, fatigue, and/or excessive sleep (or changes in sleep behavior). In my own clinical practice, although SAD can be (and is often) accompanied by other mental health issues, it can also affect any average healthy, resilient individuals with otherwise no chronic mood signs/symptoms. Women and youth are particularly susceptible to experiencing SAD.
Below is a baseline self-care strategy I commonly share with patients:
Invest in a HappyLight (Verilux) therapy lamp, which mimics natural sunlight and comes in various sizes to fit one’s living/working space. A typical unit emits 10,000 lux, the equivalent of full indirect sunlight.
Take once daily a (ideally food-based) multivitamin, which readily contains B12, folate, B6, as well as A, D, & E. While the A, Bs, and E protect nerve tissues, Vitamin D (in D3 form) has been clinically shown to alleviate SAD. It is interesting to note that D3 is critical in healthy insulin functioning, hence carbohydrate metabolism. Most people already know D3 can be naturally produced in the body via adequate sunlight exposure.
The production of melatonin, our natural sleep hormone, is heavily reliant on the contrast between full daylight and the later onset of darkness. This helps explains how/why the minimal light during the darker winter season compromises the environmental (thus biological) “cue” for sleep initiation, and the lethargy that accompanies our disrupted sleep pattern. Yoga and meditation have been clinically verified to increase plasma melatonin levels in individuals. Having grown up in South East Asia, where sunlight is available practically year-round, I personally credit my own Hot Yoga practice to be one of the most helpful tools in maintaining baseline mood & cognitive health during the trying winter months in Wisconsin (since 2002… brrr!)
Note: Please seek the assistance of your primary care physician as well as any mental health provider for mood changes/symptoms that persist despite personal effort including self-care tips as outlined above.