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Winter brings short days, grey skies, and — for some — seasonal affective disorder. Cold weather and little sunlight are common factors associated with seasonal depression. Learn how chiropractic helps with seasonal depression and your mental health.
Depression triggered by a change in seasons, usually when fall begins, is called seasonal affective disorder. This type of depression gets worse in the winter before subsiding in the spring. Some of the symptoms include fatigue, weight gain, and withdrawal from social settings.
Establish An Exercise Routine
Winter months are often associated with a decrease in physical activity since we spend more time indoors. However, exercising can help you feel more optimistic. By moving more, you will feel more energetic and alleviate the sluggish feeling from sedentary lifestyles. A great way to increase your blood flow would be to run on a treadmill at home while listening to your favorite music or following along to an exercise video.
Interact With Friends and Family
When the weather is cold, many of us stay indoors and watch movies bundled up on our couch. Taking time for ourselves is important, but too much time alone can negatively impact your mental health. To counteract that, keep in mind that even a simple conversation with a close friend can brighten up your day. Start a virtual happy hour, play a household card game, or host a movie night with your friends if going out in the cold isn't your thing.
Consider Light Therapy
Seasonal depression has been linked to changes in sunlight exposure. As a result, light therapy can help improve people's mental health who suffer from seasonal depression. Health professionals recommend 10,000 lux light for 30 minutes a day to treat seasonal depression.
Give Chiropractic Care A Try
Seasonal affective disorder typically manifests as stress-related symptoms. When muscles tense, they misalign the spine, and subluxations become worse as stress increases. It is even more challenging to improve mood, exercise or sleep when suffering from alignment issues. Chiropractic adjustments can increase spinal mobility and release endorphins, which can be helpful not only in reducing pain but also in helping you sleep better and feel more energetic.
Providing chiropractic care to the people of Rochelle for years, Wills Chiropractic is pleased to deliver hope to you, as well. Contact us today to schedule an appointment to help relieve seasonal depression and other winter ailments.
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Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, can make it incredibly hard to fully enjoy this time of year. If you experience the symptoms of SAD, these treatment tips and strategies can help you protect your mental and emotional health.
