The cold weather and dark nights can make us feel miserable. Do you feel that familiar dark cloud descending along with the darker days? Then you might have SAD, or Seasonal Affective Disorder. But what exactly is it? Is it real, or just a new fad?
SAD is a very real type of depression that is only experienced during the winter months (though very occasionally it can be experienced during summer, known as reverse-SAD). It is thought that SAD is caused by the reduced levels of daylight during the winter months, which can disrupt our internal clocks and sleep patterns, reduce the levels of serotonin (our happy hormone) released in our brain and boost our levels of melatonin (our sleepy hormone).
In addition, factors such as the cold, lack of exercise and not being able to enjoy the same activities as you can during the summer, can also play a role in SAD.
Although varying from person to person, symptoms will start off fairly mild at the start of the winter season, with a gradual worsening, before easing again when spring appears.
Can you identify with any of the following symptoms? The main symptoms of SAD include:
- Feeling fed up or low mood
- Lethargy
- Irritability
- Low self-esteem or a feeling of worthlessness
- Upset in sleeping patterns
- Changes in appetite
Here at Goodness Health, we recommend taking a supplement in order to support your mental and overall wellbeing during the Winter months. Vitamin D is great if you are not exposed to a sufficient level of daily sunlight, it may boost serotonin levels and improve low mood. We recommend Pharma Nord’s Vitamin D Pearls, which can be purchased on our website at https://goodnesshealth.co.uk/products/pharma-nord-bio-vitamin-d3-5000iu-capsules
We also recommend taking a St John’s Wort supplement, which is a traditional herb used to treat mild anxiety, low mood and depression. Our St John’s Wort supplements can be found at https://goodnesshealth.co.uk/search?q=St.+John’s+wort
If you cannot take St John’s Wort, we would recommend taking Serotonin (5-HTP); which is derived from the amino acid L-Tryptophan, and is used to make the important neurotransmitter serotonin, the happy hormone. Higher levels of serotonin improve mood and help us feel relaxed and calm. We love Higher Nature’s Serotonin, which can be found at https://goodnesshealth.co.uk/collections/higher-nature/products/higher-nature-5htp-50mg
Don’t be SAD this Winter! Come and see us or visit our website at www.goodnesshealth.co.uk