Dear Anon, thank you for sharing your concern and hope to help with a couple of suggestions. First of all, you are right about sunlight, it is known to help improve symptoms of seasonal depression because it helps with production of vitamin D. Recent studies show that daily exposure to sunlight for 20-30 minutes should give a person a nice daily dose of this essential vitamin (that is without any sunblock creams). Unfortunately many Americans are defficient of vitamin D and data includes people living in the Sun Belt States like Arizona, so you are not alone in Montana. Here are a couple of things I suggest you do on a daily basis:
1. Deep breathing exercises at least 10 minutes daily
2. Meditation or contemplation for 30 minutes - the practice of mindfulness is very healing
3. Observe your thought pattern and turn around thoughts that are not positive. Try finding ways to laugh or reasons to smile.
4. Eat healthy foods, avoid caffeine and alcohol during those days when symptoms are present. Try chammomille or other calming tea.
5. Daily intake of vitamin D (1000 IUs as a minimum)
6. GABA or SAMe supplements
7. St John's Wort is great for mild depression symptoms, it needs 2 weeks to get into your system before you notice its beneficial effects.
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Dear Anon, thank you for sharing your concern and hope to help with a couple of suggestions. First of all, you are right about sunlight, it is known to help improve symptoms of seasonal depression because it helps with production of vitamin D. Recent studies show that daily exposure to sunlight for 20-30 minutes should give a person a nice daily dose of this essential vitamin (that is without any sunblock creams). Unfortunately many Americans are defficient of vitamin D and data includes people living in the Sun Belt States like Arizona, so you are not alone in Montana. Here are a couple of things I suggest you do on a daily basis:
1. Deep breathing exercises at least 10 minutes daily
2. Meditation or contemplation for 30 minutes - the practice of mindfulness is very healing
3. Observe your thought pattern and turn around thoughts that are not positive. Try finding ways to laugh or reasons to smile.
4. Eat healthy foods, avoid caffeine and alcohol during those days when symptoms are present. Try chammomille or other calming tea.
5. Daily intake of vitamin D (1000 IUs as a minimum)
6. GABA or SAMe supplements
7. St John's Wort is great for mild depression symptoms, it needs 2 weeks to get into your system before you notice its beneficial effects.
Wish you well.
April 6, 2009 - 8:59pmThis Comment
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