- Make the most of any sun you can get - even five minutes during lunch hour.
- Avoid sunglasses during sunny winter days to maximise the amount of light getting into your eyes.
- Take a winter break to somewhere sunny.
- Use a light box during the winter months. Two to four hours a day and you should start feeling better within a month.
- Join the Seasonal Affective Disorder Association for more information and support.
- Speak to your GP (doctor). They may suggest anti-depressants like SSRI's (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors), such as Prozac or Seroxat, which work well with light therapy. Traditional anti-depressants may sometimes increase lethargy.
- Certain foods containing tryptophan - an amnio acid converted to serotonin by the body - may help. Particularly good sources are cottage cheese and turkey.
- Avoid too many carbohydrates which can sometimes increase SAD-induced lethargy. Instead eat soups or casseroles to satisfy your cravings for food.
- Some sufferers find that St John's Wort, known as natures Prozac, and the plant extract 5HTP (5-hydroxy-tryptophan) help. Both regulate serotonin and must not be taken together nor used with a light box.
- If you suspect someone has SAD, accept it as a real condition and not in their mind. Even having one supportive friend can make all the difference to them.
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