As the days get shorter, it gets dark out early (we?re talking before you leave work work early) and the moon is probably still out even when you wake up. In short, that can be depressing. It?s so easy not to feel like yourself if you don?t want to get out of bed, head outside, or even venture out to see friends in the evening. (Who wants to bundle up that much")
If you?re feeling abnormally sluggish, sleepy, and antisocial, you may have Seasonal Affective Disorder, a type of depression that comes on during the winter months and is four times more likely to affect women than men. While the sadness usually lifts in spring and summer (though not always), you don?t have to suffer until it gets warmer?you can seek help now.
Here are five things that can make you feel better. Ask for an Rx
There?s nothing wrong if you feel like you need to seek psychiatric therapy in the form of medication. In a double-blind study in 2012, people with SAD either got light therapy and placebo meds or placebo light therapy with an antidepressant called fluoxetine over eight weeks. The results" Both treatments were effective, but the Rx group had the benefit that the cost of the treatment in the first year was cheaper. (A savings of about $75.)
That said, as the authors point out, because SAD often comes back season after season (yeah, we know?), the light box can be used for about five years, making it more cost-effective in the long-run. Talk to your doctor about what option is right fo...