Beating the winter blues

Posted on December 11, 2004

(NC)-Winter is fast approaching, bringing with it cold temperatures, reduced sunlight and a psychological state many Canadians are familiar with: the winter blues.

What causes this common phenomenon? Simply put, the changes in weather that winter brings can impact our social life and psychological health in several ways. The first key factor is the loss of daylight, which is thought to affect our internal body clock and cause changes in brain chemistry.

Secondly, there are psychological factors. "During the darker, colder months, we might be tempted to cocoon indoors, limiting the interaction with friends and family that's so crucial to our well-being," says psychologist Dr. Ronald Clavier. "We also tend to exercise less and eat more, which can lower our overall self-esteem." Add to that the family stress of the holiday season and the financial pressures of post-holiday debt, and you have a recipe for the winter blues come January, Dr. Clavier notes.

Short of jetting off to Florida for the season, what can we do to beat the blahs? For most people, Dr. Clavier says, the remedy is simple. Bundle up and get outdoors, since both the sunlight and the exercise will benefit your mental state. Resist the urge to hunker down at home and instead schedule regular activities, such as volunteering in the community or visiting with friends.

But Dr. Clavier adds that for the roughly 10 per cent of Canadians who are affected by clinical depression and anxiety, more support may be needed. "If you're feeling depressed most days, or have lost interest in activities you used to enjoy, and these feelings persist and impact your life and happiness, then it's time see a professional because there are treatments that can help."

In most cases, the recommended course of treatment for clinical depression and anxiety involves anti-depressant medication combined with talk therapy, and there are exciting developments in this area. Medications that affect both serotonin and norepinephrine levels in the brain, such as Effexor XR, have been shown to be effective in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety. And the latest techniques in talk therapy, like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, can help depression and anxiety patients to reframe their problems and see them in a different light.

For more information on depression and anxiety, visit www.mypeaceofmind.ca.

— News Canada

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