Unless you are one of those “love to ski” types, winter can be a long, cold, boring, cold, dark, cold season. For many of us it’s hard to be happy. For others, the winter season is more then just a little difficult–they suffer from seasonal affective disorder or become clinically depressed.
There are many symptoms associated with depression other then sadness. Sleep troubles, change in appetite, slow thinking, fatigue, irritability, restlessness, and difficultly making decisions are all possible signs of depression. Even physical symptoms like back pain and headaches can be signs that your mood is out of balance.
Conventional medicine relies on the use of anti-depressants to treat the problem, and when the depression is severe, these tools can be literally life saving. However, there are some downsides associated with the use of antidepressants that have many patients looking for alternatives.
How Naturopathic Doctors See Your Depression
Because the body generally does an excellent job of healing itself, naturopaths see depression, like most symptoms, as a sign of an imbalance in your body that could be creating your current symptoms. Here are a few:
- A hormone imbalance – low estrogen and/or high progesterone can be a culprit here. Also, thyroid and adrenal imbalances can lead to very low moods.
- A nutrient deficiency might be in play – low levels of omega-3 fats, iron, B vitamins or vitamin D can be the cause of imbalanced mood.
- Too much inflammation as is often caused by the standard North American diet and/or food intolerances, resolution of that inflammation with a diet change can greatly affect mood.
- Mental-emotional imbalances. Unresolved grief, post traumatic stress – these are all real causes of sadness and depression. Also, a feeling of hopelessness, depression or overwhelm are all signals that it is time to sit down and re-evaluate what is most important in your world. Put those things that are front and center and act to change them.
What to Do?
The first rule of depression is to not go it alone. Serious depression requires serious help. Don’t be afraid to ask for it.
If you’re trying to beat the “winter blues,” though, there’s a growing body of research that says that exercise works as well or better than anti-depressants, and with none of the side effects.
The trick, of course, is that if there’s ever a time when you feel less like exercising, it’s when you’re depressed. With that in mind, here are a few suggestions:
- Start small. Don’t make a big deal out of this. You’re better off getting a few minutes of exercise outside than nothing at all. Really–take a two-minute walk. Everyone has two minutes. It’s getting started that matters.
- Walking counts. You don’t need to throw weights around, get sweaty, or go to Pilates. A simple walk will help.
- Get outside. There are numerous benefits to being outdoors, particularly in winter. You’ll get more bang for your buck by getting out of the house.
- Rely on friends and family. Getting out in winter is hard enough on your own. Find someone to join you, and hold you accountable.
Wondering if your hormones or nutrient status are affecting your mood? Just contact the clinic at 705-444-5331 to learn how you can find out.
