Tips for winter depression?

[sdan4]

I struggle with winter depression and am trying to get ahead of it this year... searching for any ideas which may help?

I am intending to try to get out regularly and do exercise/get fresh air... keep to a routine... but I know from previous experience that when it hits those are the last things I want to do.

Do light therapy lamps or vitamin D supplements really work? I have tried anti-depressants in the past but I cannot sleep on them, and even when depressed I am usually at least a good sleeper so losing sleep means I lose my only peace

Any advice appreciated x

[Iluvhorses]

Hi there :). I have taken vitamin d supplements and they did help. It could have been a placebo effect, but that doesnt matter to me.

[BikerChk]

Hi Sdan4,

I've seen someone who used light therapy and it seemed to work really well but it does require the appropriate wave lengths and the exposure has to be a certain length of time and duration. I don't think you can go wrong with doing both as neither should be prohibitively expensive. I can tell you, I don't absorb Vit D in either supplements or food, so although rare, the light source may be at the right parameters to give you a dose of Vit D. It's something to consider and look into.

Good job trying the preventative route!!! Let us know what you end up doing and how it works out!!

BikerChk

[krishna54]

I concur that both those therapies you mention are worthwhile, but I should mention that there are a great many cases where the cause of depression is a disturbance of the microbiome, or gut flora. Basically, your little friends in your gut make most of the serotonin in the body, and other neurotransmitters as well, so it pays to keep them in good shape.

I can wholeheartedly recommend the pre- and pro-biotic supplement Prescript Assist, which is 29 species of some very unusual flora that are not commonly found in other supplements. The purpose they serve is to get the (hopefully as many as) 1000 OTHER species in the gut to be properly balanced, rather than being themselves something that plays a large, ongoing role after supplementation is discontinued.

[Hidden]

Hi

From my experience I do feel like vits help and a light box.

I also feel what your doing will help too.

A lot of positive thinking and listening to positive help things can help too.

Good luck and best wishes.

[Elaine666]

Hi Sdan,

My advice for winter depression is keeping warm and switch on the light whenever you feel dark. Seems straightforward, works for me!

I like winter actually, a goooood reason to be lazy~~

[Kainan]

I am using the light box, which I actually got last year in preparation for this year, for 15 minutes every morning. Though at this point I can't say for sure how beneficial it is. Maybe in the coming months I'll find out. I completely agree with you on getting regular exercise and making that a routine. I also feel its important to not feel too overworked, as that usually fatigues the mind and body and can open a thoroughfare for depression to seep right in.