Banish Winter-Blues! Acupuncture For Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Those who find themselves a ‘little down’ or suffering from ‘winter blues’ may be suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Here’s the rundown of what this actually means, the signs to look out for and the best treatments and advice.

 

What Is Seasonal Affective Disorder

As summer ends and nights get longer and colder, a person’s mood can be affected.

Essentially a type of depression, individual cases can range from trouble sleeping soundly, eating differently and lower energy levels to being seriously depressed.

 

Signs of Seasonal Affective Disorder

Besides feeling down, having a lack of energy or feeling depressed, common signs of SAD are…

• Agitation
• Stress and anxiety
• Insomnia
• Poor appetite
• Weight loss

 

Treatments For Seasonal Affective Disorder

Of course every treatment is individual. Here’s some things to try yourself…

• Get as much sun as you can – you’re after the vitamin D in sunlight
• Get some exercise – staying active increases endorphins
• Do ‘happy’ things – hobbies or activities which you enjoy make it difficult to feel down
• Plan ahead – having something to look forward to can make all the difference

Don’t be afraid to seek help – a study shows acupuncture to be as effective as Prozac in treating depression – read more on our Acupuncture for Depression page

 

Facts About Seasonal Affective Disorder?

• More common in the North of Australia than the South of Australia
• Usually appears in your 20s and reduces with age
• More common in men than women (but that might just be more men don’t seek help!)

The first thing anyone suffering signs of SAD should be to seek help – feel free to book in or give me, Dr. Tsai a call on 1300 886 668 for more information.