I’ve never really believed in the idea of having the “winter blues” or Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), however, this has been the longest, coldest, snowiest winter that we’ve had in a long time, and it’s starting to get on my nerves! Even my children, who couldn’t wait for it to snow, are tired of the cold weather. It does start to bring you down after awhile, when it’s just too bitterly cold to do anything outdoors. I don’t think I’ve reached the point of winter blues yet, but if the sun doesn’t shine soon, I’m on my way to becoming severly cranky!

If you’re suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder, here are a few suggestions that may help.

1. Keep an active social calendar. Even though you may not feel like venturing out in the cold, it is imperative that you make the effort and maintain your friendships. Isolating yourself is only going to make you feel worse. If you don’t feel like going out, then invite people over.

2. Get out and exercise! Feeling the winter blues is caused by the body not producing enough serotonin, the chemical that affects a person’s state of mind. When you exercise, your body releases more serotonin. So even if you just do 10 jumping jacks at home or jog around your apartment, get that body moving and get the serotonin flowin’!

3. Studies have shown that using full-spectrum light boxes as a form of light therapy help patients overcome their symptoms.