Christmas is over the New Year is looming, the bank balance is sailing close to the wind and the news is depressing. The days are gray, wet and windy and the daylight hours are short. For many this is a time when people slide in to a state of gloom.
Hopefully for many this state doesn’t last for too long and is short-lived, however 7% of the UK’s population every winter suffer from SAD(Seasonal Affected Disorder). If you get depressed in the winter but feel much better in spring and summer, you possibly are experiencing Seasonal Affected Disorder.
I have successfully worked with a number of clients who have had SAD finding it very difficult to function in the winter season between November and April. They particularly experienced problems during December, January and February.
If you have SAD, or the winter blues you may experience some of the below:
- Depressive tendencies, grumpy, moody, or anxious.
- Lose interest in your usual activities.
- Eat more and crave carbohydrates, such as bread and pasta.
- Gain weight.
- Experience a decrease in sexual desire.
- Sleep more and feel drowsy during the daytime.
To help alleviate these symptoms I work with clients in my hypnotherapy practice to help them restore their natural balance by reprogramming the mind to feel more optimistic and to release their natural serotonin , the all essential feel good chemical.
6 Essential Remedies for keeping The Blues at Bay
- There is nothing like laughter to lift your mood with the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, that promote an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain. Laughter decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, improving your resistance to disease. Rent or share, comedy DVD’s, listen to or read funny and humorous material. Collect and swap jokes with friends and family. Sing the laughing policeman song it never fails!
- Take advantage of the sunny days – leave your desks, sofas and get out there in the sun. Take the opportunity to recharge your batteries, replenish your serotonin levels, and maintain a better mood.
- Physical exercise releases the feel good chemical serotonin, essential for improving your emotional state. Take a brisk walk, run, cycle, whatever the weather, embrace the elements on a daily basis. Walk to the tube, park the car further away from work and enjoy a brisk walk.
- Take charge of your feelings – aim to do activities that make you feel good, like listening to uplifting music, dancing, singing. Look at previous holiday pictures and if you can, take a holiday to a warm place, or plan next year’s holiday. Cosy up at home in the evenings, light candles, see it as an opportunity to relax. Get in touch with your domestic creative self.
- Moderate your alcohol intake – this helps you to reduce your weight, makes you feel less sluggish and improves your mood the next morning. Likewise aim to eat healthy fresh seasonal food packed with essential vitamins and minerals. See www.colouryourhealth
- Boost your mind and your body regularly with feel good messages. By frequently applying visualisation, hypnosis and meditation tools you can tone up your mental muscle. Flood your system with images of liquid golden sunshine, and empowering positive well being messages that excite your subconscious.
- Using these effective tools naturally releases feel good endorphins that reinforces your energy levels, improving your motivation as well as boosting your immune system to retain fantastic mental and physical health throughout the winter months ahead. Buy my powerful mind-programming Winter Mood Enhancement CD that will banish those winter blues forever. I give you positive suggestions that will fill your mind helping you to feel more energetic, healthier and change the way you respond to winter. Choose to be free from those winter blues. Buy your CD here.
For more information on SAD you may like to read Transform those Winter Blues
