The Blues

Wondering what happen to the excitement you felt this summer. You're not alone!  One in five Americans are impacted by seasonal change and winter blues. Symptoms include reduced energy, difficulty rising in the morning, greater need for sleep and a tendency to eat more, especially sweets and starches.

​If you are looking for natural ways to make improvements, try the following remedies:

• Try to get as much natural light as possible. Light changes the amount of melatonin in your nervous system and boosts serotonin in your brain. One theory is that less sunlight during fall and winter leads to the brain making less serotonin, a chemical linked to brain pathways that regulate mood, appetite, sleep, memory and learning.
• Eat a well-balanced diet. This will help you have more energy. Foods like lean proteins, whole grains, fresh fruits, vegetables, and fish, will short-circuit the craving of starchy and sweet foods.
• Integrate massage therapy into your health routine. Massage increases serotonin values leading to better sleep and more energy, improves mood, concentration, decreases anxiety, and resets circadian rhythms, or the body clock.
  
• Exercise for 30 minutes a day. When you exercise, your body releases chemicals called endorphins. Endorphins also trigger a positive feeling in the body, similar to that of morphine. It will help ward off anxiety and feelings of depression, reduce stress and improve sleep.
• Practice meditation. Meditation helps you center yourself into the present moment.  It has been shown to be a powerful treatment for relieving both stress and mild-to-moderate depression. 
  

By applying these few tips you can make a great impact to your mood. If these options do not help, its time to talk to your doctor.

References:
webmd.com and amtamassage.org