Lighten Up Those Winter Blues

Newswise — It's dark when you get up, it's dark when you get home " and you spend most of your day indoors. The lack of exposure to sunlight might make you one of the almost 10 percent of people who suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD). UAB psychiatrist Andree Stoves, M.D., says the absence of sunlight can lead to or exacerbate depression. Short of spending the winter on a tropical beach, Stoves says it's good to get more light in your life. Try to spend time outdoors during the day, or look into light therapy, which can affect the body's internal clock and is particularly helpful to those who do shift work as well as those with a seasonal pattern to their moods.