About.com Health: Breaking Free of the Winter Funk

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Health From Heather Loeb, your About Health Editor With the frigid weather and gloomy gray skies this time of year, it's no surprise that many folks start feeling a little melancholy. A Seasonal Mood Shift If you feel depressed and fatigued during winter, you may have a form of depression known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Why Do I Feel Down? It's thought that SAD is caused by limited exposure to natural light and the subsequent disruption of your circadian rhythm. See More About:  seasonal affective disorder  seasonal affective disorder causes  Let There Be Light The best treatment for SAD is phototherapy, which involves exposure to a bright light every day. How to Choose a Light Box Side Effects of Light Box Therapy See More About:  light boxes  phototherapy  sad Natural Treatments for SAD In addition to phototherapy, reducing your stress levels may help you cope with the blues. See More About:  light therapy  herbs and supplements  remedies for anxiety Health Ads Health Healthy Colon Health Human and Health Winter Depression Kids Health Exercise Featured Articles Follow About.com Health on Twitter! Vote for the Best Walking Gear When Your Child Refuses to Eat All About Erectile Dysfunction Treating Acne in Dry Skin Kava for Anxiety Relief   More from About.com Over the Counter Cold Medications How to choose the right medication for your cold and flu symptoms. More> Should Kids Get Flu Shots? Think your child is too healthy to need a flu shot? Think again. More>   Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About Health newsletter. If you wish to change your email address or unsubscribe, please click here. About respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 249 West 17th Street New York, NY, 10011 © 2011 About.com   Free Health Tools from About.com Count Calories, Lose Weight Check Your Symptoms Understand Your Test Results Advertisement