Better Together

Sadness during Christmas and winter blues?

Updated on December 3, 2019 in Anxiety & Depression
1 on December 3, 2019

My grandson gets this way every time of the year(not sure why) and has been on meds but doesn’t want to go that route again. He is 20 and has struggled since his early teens.

 
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0 on December 3, 2019

SAD, or seasonal affective disorder, is relatively common especially in the northern hemisphere where we get low sunlight and inadequate vitamin D. I would encourage him to check his vitamin D levels, and supplement accordingly. A light therapy box can also be effective for many people, as it mimicks sunlight so that our brain will produce serotonin–the ”feel good” neurotransmitter. There are many options you can buy online but should have a minimum power rating of at least 10,000 lux. This box should be used at least 30 minutes per day but he may feel better with longer use of up to a few hours.

Other avenues of support for him include whole foods nutrition, regular exercise, good sleep hygiene, and consistent social connection.

Hope this helps!

Zoe

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