With the onset of colder temperatures in our area, we must be aware of how our mood can be influenced by our weather.
Ann Rojas A Family Medicine Nurse Practitioner at Prevea Manitowoc Health Center says, most of us will experience some degree of sadness or winter blues but if the symptoms continue you may have Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD.
She told Seehafer News, “Here living in the north, we are more prone to it because our days get shorter and there is less sunshine that we are able to get and that changes our Circadian Rhythm and can change our actual mood/ hormones and that kind of thing that we have going on inside of our body.”
Depression is a serious problem according to Rojas, but thankfully there are many ways to combat this disorder and return to normal. She suggested making sure, “you are getting enough sleep and that you are getting good quality sleep. Eating a healthy diet can also make you feel better overall. If you are getting all of the vitamins and nutrients that you need from your food. Of course it great for your body to be active but it’s also really good for your mind and for your mood because just having that activity or exercise releases those endorphins in your body and it tells our brain that we should be happy and in a good mood.
And if those home remedies are not enough, if you are still feeling overwhelmed or sad it may be time to talk to your Doctor.
“There is no shame in ever asking for help,” Rojas said. “We would rather have everybody ask for help than everybody keep their mood to themselves and be quiet.
With the lingering pandemic, Rojas said it’s important to take care of ourselves especially living in Wisconsin with our winter weather and shorter days.
