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document.write('<h2>Coping with the Winter Blues </h2><p><strong><em>by <a target="_blank" href="http://www.parishwebmaster.com/service');
document.write('s/authors/bio_ajubar.htm" STYLE="TEXT-DECORATION: NONE"><font color="#000000">Aaron Jubar</font></a></em></strong></p><');
document.write('p>An icy wind blowing into an uncovered ear and the sun setting at 5 o\'clock make me think of one thing- winter depressi');
document.write('on.  Late fall and early winter mark the onset of seasonal affective disorder, also known as SAD, in many people.  Fortu');
document.write('nately, there are a number of ways we can prevent, or at least alleviate, the effects of SAD.  </p><h3>SAD People Every');
document.write('where!</h3><p>If you\'re anything like me, you\'ve already begun to feel the effects of the cold weather and the shorter ');
document.write('days.  Regardless of your locale, thoughts of the bone-chilling months ahead or the perpetual gray skies and incessant r');
document.write('ain, can cause anyone to eat more, sleep less, and slip into a mild depression.  You may think that there\'s no way for y');
document.write('ou to deal with the winter blues, but in fact there is much you can do.  </p><p>It won\'t be long before people in the n');
document.write('orthern states will be arriving at work before the sun comes up and leaving after the sun sets. When I lived in Michigan');
document.write(', I used to crack jokes to my fellow employees about never seeing the sun for 4 months in the winter, and being some sor');
document.write('t of sun-fearing vampire.  Ironically, a general lack of sunlight may be the root of most of the winter blues in the nor');
document.write('thern states.  </p><p>This winter, as many as 1 in 4 Americans will experience some form of seasonal affective disorder');
document.write(' (also called SAD).  SAD is a type of depression that often recurs from year to year.  Seasonal affective disorder, just');
document.write(' as its name implies, can happen during any time of the year, and in any climate or locale.  Spring and summer depressio');
document.write('n does occur, but is not as common as SAD during the months of fall and winter. </p><h3>SAD Signs </h3><p>Symptoms of ');
document.write('SAD include, but are not limited to: </p><ul><li>Irritability</li><li>Difficulty concentrating </li><li>Loss of ener');
document.write('gy</li><li>A craving for and overeating of foods high in carbohydrates</li><li>Change of sleep habits</li><li>Weight ');
document.write('gain</li></ul><p>In addition to the symptoms above, SAD, like other forms of depression, may include headaches, feelin');
document.write('gs of guilt, a feeling of hopelessness, and a loss of interest or pleasure in activities you used to enjoy.  </p><p>The');
document.write(' exact causes of SAD are not known, however, stress, genetics, and your body\'s own internal chemistry appear to be facto');
document.write('rs.  Recent research has focused on the role that sunlight plays in SAD.  It seems that a lack of sunlight in the winter');
document.write(' months can disrupt our circadian rhythms, which are the body\'s own clocks.  </p><p>But if you live in a northern state');
document.write(' like Michigan and work 8 to 5, then how can you get more sunlight in the winter? </p><h3>SAD Treatments </h3><p>One w');
document.write('ay to treat SAD is with light therapy.  Light therapy involves the use of a light box or a light visor that is 10 to 20 ');
document.write('times brighter than ordinary indoor lighting.  Light therapy won\'t work for everybody and for many of us, it may not be ');
document.write('an option.  </p><p>As an alternative, I suggest the following strategies for coping with a mild case of SAD or the wint');
document.write('er blues.  </p><ol><li>Get outside.  I know that it will soon be frigid outside for many people, but taking a short wa');
document.write('lk every day, even in the cold, can be extremely beneficial.  Natural sunlight is better than any indoor replication, an');
document.write('d the exercise from walking is good for you as well.  Don\'t worry about it being overcast, either.  Even on cloudy days,');
document.write(' plenty of the sun\'s UV rays penetrate to the earth\'s surface.  So get out there and soak up some of that sunlight!</li>');
document.write('<li>Increase your endorphin levels.  Endorphins are chemicals created by the body and produce a feeling of well-being. ');
document.write(' There a number of ways you can naturally increase the amount of endorphins your body produces.  One way is through exer');
document.write('cise.  Exercise is not only good for you physically, but can help regulate your body\'s internal chemistry and cope with ');
document.write('stress and depression.  Another way to increase your endorphin levels is through meditation and prayer.  Meditation and ');
document.write('prayer help us use our sub-conscious mind to release endorphins.</li><li>Manage stress effectively.  Try to learn ways ');
document.write('to positively deal with anxiety and stress.  Feelings of stress and anxiety can intensify the symptoms of seasonal affec');
document.write('tive disorder, but there are a number of resources that can teach us how to cope with these feelings.</li><li>If you li');
document.write('ve in a colder climate, take sunny vacations.  Whenever possible, plan vacations to warm, sunny locales.  The trip may o');
document.write('nly provide temporary relief of the symptoms, but anywhere\'s better than Michigan in January.  (If you live in a warmer ');
document.write('climate, go back to step one and think about all the poor, frozen snow-bunnies as you take your winter walk wearing shor');
document.write('ts and sandals.)</li></ol><h3>Happy Endings</h3><p>Hopefully, the strategies I\'ve provided here will help you cope wi');
document.write('th mild seasonal depression this winter.  If your symptoms still persist and appear to be dominating your life, you shou');
document.write('ld seek a physician\'s aid.  A physician will be able to diagnose your individual condition and offer treatment options t');
document.write('hat may include light therapy, medication, or psychotherapy.  </p><p>And wherever you are, however you feel, don\'t forg');
document.write('et to offer prayers of thanksgiving for our wonderful seasons -- whether they\'re kind to us or not! </p><hr><h3>Life Ap');
document.write('plications:</h3><p>What do you do to combat the winter blues?<br />What do you do to stay active and fit during the col');
document.write('d months?<br />How can you use prayer to ?</p><hr><p>Copyright 2002-2009 <strong><em>by <a target="_blank" href="http:/');
document.write('/www.parishwebmaster.com/services/authors/bio_ajubar.htm"><font color="#000000">Aaron Jubar</font></a></em></strong><A H');
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