theconnectionsnj.com PAGE 36 DINING OUT HEALTH & WELLNESS Many people struggle with the winter months following the holiday season coming out of November and December. In fact, there is a condition called Seasonal A ective Disorder (SAD) that can emerge in the winter months when the days are dark, have reduced sunlight, and have cold temperatures. e reduction in sunlight and shorter days in winter have been linked to chemical changes in the brain that may be the cause of SAD. Symptoms include sadness, loss of motivation, weight gain, oversleeping, and feelings of isolation. But you do not have to have SAD as a diagnosable condition to experience any or all of these symptoms. You can experience them to a much lesser degree and they can still a ect your daily mood or functioning. A er the holiday hoopla, excitement, food consumption, gi giving and receiving, and spending time with friends and family (some of whom you do not see very o en), there can be a post-partum type of response as you enter into January and the remaining winter months. e dark, cold, and shorter days can a ect our motivation to go out and do things and see people. Feelings of isolation, sadness, laziness, and general sedentary behavior are o en signs MIND THE MIND By Dr. Michael Osit WINTER BLUES Post Holidays and Into the Cold Weather of the winter blues. Here are the following suggestions to prevent, or cope with, the winter blues. Since research has indicated that the reduction of sunlight in the winter may be the cause of SAD and the winter blues, light therapy can be a viable intervention. It is recommended that a half hour per day, before 8:00 AM in front of a 10,000 lux lamp 7 days a week can compensate for the lack of sunlight received during the darker winter months. Eating properly and healthily is always a key to good mental health. Regular exercise, preferably outside your home will also help. Renew or nd a new hobby. is activity would be most bene cial if it is done with another person or group of people. Indoor racquet sports are an excellent example. Volunteering or nding a group that focuses on an interest of yours and that meets regularly is also another possibility. To combat feelings of isolation and laziness, initiate regular social plans with friends and family. Even if you do not feel like it, force yourself to connect with people you enjoy spending time with. Try to plan something in the future, but not too far in the future, such as visiting a long-distance friend, a weekend getaway or vacation. is gives you something positive to look forward to. It also provides you with a change of environment that can be refreshing. Talk about your feelings to a loved one or someone close to you. Seek therapy if you continue to have concerned feelings or cannot get out of your funk by yourself. Dr. Michael Osit is a Licensed Psychologist practicing in Warren, and author of e Train Keeps Leaving Without Me: A Guide to Happiness, Freedom, and Self Ful llment (2016), and Generation Text: Raising Well Adjusted Kids In An Age Of Instant Everything (2008).
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