Holistic Remedies for Seasonal Affective Disorder: How to Beat the Winter Blues Naturally Mental Health Women's Health Men's Health

Winter is here. And with the shorter, darker days, millions of people will struggle with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). SAD is a condition that typically affects people in the colder, darker months. Women are more than four times as likely as men to struggle with it.

Symptoms of seasonal affective disorder include:

• sadness
• moodiness
• lack of energy

The symptoms can begin in the fall and continue through winter.

Here are some holistic remedies to help beat the winter blues:

• Lighten Up! Try to get outside as often as you can to soak up more light when the weather permits. Try taking a walk every day that you’re able, keeping window shades open and setting your workstation up near a window if you can. Another option is light therapy using light boxes specifically designed to emit light about 20 times brighter than typical indoor lights. Light therapy is usually recommended for about 30 minutes a day and tends to be the most useful first thing in the morning. The goal is to mimic the light you’d normally get outside during the sunnier seasons of the year.

• Get Moving: Regular exercise can increase serotonin levels in the brain, which can help fight off seasonal sadness. So get moving today, whether it’s a walk around the block, a virtual yoga class or a hike in the mountains. Any form of exercise will do the trick.

• Eat Healthy: Research shows that healthy nutrition is an important part of holistic healing for SAD. Choose recipes that contain natural mood boosters such as dark leafy greens, dark chocolate, nuts and seeds, fish and avocados.

• Balance Your Energy with Energy Healing: Releasing emotional baggage that may be holding you back is another great way to prevent the symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder, or at least reduce their severity.

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