Do you have Seasonal Affective Disorder?(SAD)?? In the Northeast, people?who have symptoms of this disorder start to experience it at this time of?year.? As the days grow shorter and?access to natural light becomes limited, a mild to severe depression can set?in.? The worst part about it is,?you may not know what?s happening to you. ?Everything else in your life may be right on track, but for some
inexplicable reason, you feel blue.

It?s estimated that a half million Americans?suffer from some form of winter-onset depression during the cold, dark season,?with symptoms such as lethargy and fatigue, difficulty concentrating,?irritability, sleeping and/or eating too much, increased carbohydrate cravings?which leads to weight gain, and a reduced interest in previously enjoyed?activities, such as social interactions and intimacy.

SAD is thought to be caused by a disturbance in?the sleep-wake cycle. Less sunlight leads to higher levels of the hormone?melatonin, which can affect mood. ?Typical treatments for SAD include
anti-depressant medicines which aren?t always effective and are known to have side effects.? Light or
phototherapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) are also useful. Light?therapy (exposure to special bright lights) can be effective in as many as 70?percent of those affected.

For unknown reasons, three-quarters of those?affected by SAD are women. ?And you?know the saying, ?if momma ain?t happy, nobody?s happy.?? So what’s the best way to get back in balance?

From a holistic perspective, there are things?you can do to combat the winter blues:

Increase?Vitamin D3?in your diet or through?supplementation or diet.?Taking an?additional 1,000 ? 2,000 IU is now widely recognized by most physicians.? You can also add Vitamin D through food?sources like milk, salmon, tuna, sardines or eggs (found in the yolk).? One of my favorite supplements is a?liquid Vitamin D distributed by Carlson.?One drop contains 1,000 IU!??Take advantage of 10% off at?https://yourinfinitewellness.com/products.html.

Take a?solar break.? Try to go outside during your coffee or lunch?breaks to get exposure to natural light.??Take a walk or sit in a sunny spot for as long as you can spare.? If you have the means to get away for a?few days, head south to someplace warm and sunny and take advantage of much
needed dose of sunlight.

Homeopathy?can help.?A homeopathic practitioner carefully matches remedies and dosages with an
individual?s symptom patterns and even individual personalities, in order to?best stimulate the body’s own natural healing response.??According to naturopathic doctor, Dr. Mark Stengler, remedies useful for
treating SAD are:

Aurum Metallicum.
Also known as metallic gold, this is a classic remedy for many of the symptoms?associated with seasonal affective disorder, and is often prescribed for bouts?of depression associated with a lack of sunlight. It may be specifically helpful?for stress, tension and sadness. People in authority and those with a strong
sense of duty are good candidates for Aurum Metallicum.

Ignatia.
Homeopathic physicians frequently prescribe Ignatia for symptoms of SAD and?other types of depression, emotional distress, anxiety, moodiness and grief.? Perfectionists in particular, are likely to benefit from Ignatia.

Natrum?Sulphuricum.
This remedy especially useful for people with depression that grows worse with dampness. Natrum Sulphuricum is particularly well-suited to those who are sensitive to changes from dry to wet weather.

Pulsatilla.
This?homeopathic preparation from the windflower is most beneficial for individuals?with gentle, sensitive personalities — patients whose feelings are easily hurt?and who tend to extend themselves in order to avoid hurting the feelings of?others. In addition to using Pulsatilla for SAD, it?s often prescribes for?anxiety, arthritis, headache and hormonal imbalances.

Sepia.
Made from?cuttlefish ink, Sepia may be helpful in treating the symptoms of SAD and other?forms of depression and may be especially effective for those who are irritable,?overwhelmed, exhausted and who have a tendency to isolate themselves from?others. ?It?s also useful for women?with hormonal imbalances who may experience symptoms from PMS, menopause and?peri-menopause.

If you?d like to learn more about homeopathy to see if it?s right for you,?contact?me for a complimentary
consultation.