5 Ways to Fight Winter Depression with Chinese Medicine
With so much to celebrate in the New Year, why do Missoulians find themselves struggling against seasonal depression each January? Seasonal Affective Disorder, also known as seasonal depression, is a common problem with many people enduring the hazy winters of Missoula. But! You CAN do something about it using complementary medicine to boost your natural ability to stay chipper even in the dreariest of winter days.
Seasonal Affective Disorder is most commonly associated with winter but can happen at any time of the year. A large part of the problem is the change in daylight hours and how we spend our time in them.
Sunlight affects our natural circadian rhythms as well as our melatonin production which control our sleep patterns. The oh-so-vital sleep system determines how long, how often, and how well we sleep.
Likewise, this change in sunlight affects our body’s ability to produce serotonin – the happy chemical.
What you get is a terrible combination of poor sleep and lack of stimulating serotonin to keep us motivated and happy.
These two factors play off of each other. The less you get out and experience the world around you and soak up that vital sunlight, the more depressed you become. It’s a real lose-lose.
How do I prevent Winter Depression?
Good news! You can do something about winter depression. Here are out top 5 ways to fight the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder and start enjoying winter again.
#1 Get Outside! | Nourish Kidney Yang
With so much to celebrate in the New Year, why do Missoulians find themselves struggling against seasonal depression each January? Seasonal Affective Disorder, also known as seasonal depression, is a common problem with many people enduring the hazy winters of Missoula. But! You CAN do something about it using complementary medicine to boost your natural ability to stay chipper even in the dreariest of winter days.
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