053- Do you deal with SAD feelings?

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Embracing Sunshine: A Candid Conversation About Beating the Winter Blues

We are nearing the end of winter where we get to say goodbye those shorter days. We will approach the first day of spring soon. There's something that's been bothering me lately. I can't seem to shake this low, in-a-funk mood. Seems like it's been going on for at least a month, maybe longer. Anyone else feel this way?

I haven't been diagnosed by a professional, but I think I've been suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder. I'm sure it's not coincidental that the acronym for that is SAD. If you're on a journey of self-improvement and find yourself dealing with the winter blues, this one's for you (and me). Let's chat about what SAD is, how it feels, and the nitty-gritty of overcoming it without letting the stigma get us down.

What is SAD? Seasonal Affective Disorder is like the grumpy cousin of depression who shows up uninvited during fall and winter. Blame it on the reduced sunlight messing with our emotions, throwing our sleep patterns out of whack, and playing with those neurotransmitters – serotonin and melatonin. The result? A winter funk that seems like it should be easy to shake-- but it's not.

How does the Winter Funk feel? Picture this: you're navigating a mental obstacle course where even the smallest hurdles feel like epic challenges. Energy levels are in hibernation mode, and motivation decides to take a vacation. Yep, that's the winter funk and it sucks. Anyone else know how I feel? Wondering what might help improve SAD symptoms? There are a few things that are recommended, based on some research that I've done.

Light therapy: Think of it as a sunshine substitute. Bask in bright light, especially in the morning, to trick your brain into feeling sunnier. I have one that sits on my desk at work. I try to turn it on when I'm at my desk. This light is like the one that I have. I have no proof that these lights work, but even if it's a placebo affect, maybe it helps. It certainly can't hurt.

Move that body: Exercise is supposed to be a mood-booster. A daily dose can kick those winter blues to the curb. Obviously with winter weather getting in the way of exercising outdoors, we have to come up with alternatives. There are phone apps that have exercise routines that can you do. I found one that I like called "Workout Women." The other thing I have, and love using, is the walking pad that I got for Christmas.

Healthy habits: Don't forget to protect your sleep schedule-- there isn't a lot that is more important than sleep. Some other things that are important are eating healthy meals, "force" yourself to do activities that you enjoy, and keep the laughter rolling with social connections. Sometimes it's hard to want to take care of yourself when you are in a funk but its important.

Supplements: Did you know that about 90% of serotonin (the hormone responsible for stabilizing your mood, happiness, and feelings of wellbeing) is produced in your gut? What that means is that a healthy gut helps with good moods and happiness. One of the best ways to help your body with this is to take a probiotic and/or a colostrum supplement. I've been taking a couple things lately: this collagen and probiotic powder, and Wonder Cow colostrum. What I do is wait til my coffee has cooled down and there's about 1/3 of the coffee left, and mix in the recommended amount. Stirring it in can be hard, so I use this milk frothing gadget.

Other helpful things: Explore things like mindfulness, a gratitude practice, and talk therapy as additional options of things that may help.

Navigating Stigma- Let's talk about the elephant in the room – the stigma of mental health challenges. Break out your mental sunshine and challenge those misconceptions. Open up about your journey, and share your story. That's what I'm trying to do here. I'm not fully comfortable saying that I struggle with a mood disorder, but I'm hoping that it will help someone else. I can make myself proud by sharing my story.