{"id":7463,"date":"2022-11-03T04:23:47","date_gmt":"2022-11-03T05:23:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/?p=7463"},"modified":"2022-11-04T02:25:13","modified_gmt":"2022-11-04T02:25:13","slug":"what-is-seasonal-affective-disorder-how-to-slay-sad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/everything-else\/what-is-seasonal-affective-disorder-how-to-slay-sad\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Seasonal Affective Disorder? (How to Slay SAD!)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-3862418\" src=\"http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/SAD-link.jpg\" alt=\"This photo shows Link about to do battle with the SAD monster. \" width=\"709\" height=\"351\" srcset=\"http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/SAD-link.jpg 709w, http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/SAD-link-300x149-1.jpg 300w, http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/SAD-link-610x302-1.jpg 610w, http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/SAD-link-600x297-1.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 709px) 100vw, 709px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><b>Winter is approaching and with it comes SAD.<\/b><\/p>\n<p>No, I don&#8217;t mean the emotion (although that&#8217;s part of it).<\/p>\n<p>I&#8217;m talking about Seasonal Affective Disorder.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Luckily, we have some tips and tricks for treating SAD that our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdfitness.com\/coaching-overview-page\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Online Coaching Clients<\/a> use. Today, we&#8217;ll share them with you too.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\t<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdfitness.com\/coaching-overview-page\/\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n\t\t<button class=\"cta-button red\"><br \/>\n\t\t\tYou don&#8217;t have to take this journey alone. Learn more by clicking here.\t\t<\/button><br \/>\n\t<\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Here&#8217;s what we&#8217;ll cover<\/span>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#what_is_SAD\">What is Seasonal Affective Disorder?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#Do_I_have_SAD\">How do I know if I have SAD?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#treating_SAD\">What is the best treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder? (Slaying the SAD Beast)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#SAD_next_steps\">Moving forward with SAD (This too shall pass)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Disclaimer:<\/strong> We\u2019re going to be discussing some issues that may be difficult for some going through a tough time. If you (or someone you know) aren\u2019t coping so well, PLEASE see the\u00a0<a href=\"#more_help\">links at the bottom of this article<\/a>\u00a0with some\u00a0resources from all around the world.\u00a0Obviously, we recommend discussing this information with your health professional \u2013 <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">none of this is a diagnosis<\/span>, but rather a starting point for discussion.<\/p>\n<p><strong>BUT, armed with the right weapons, we can ward off the winter monster, or even keep it in full hibernation.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>From here, mental health wizard and resident NF Family Rebel Correspondent, Dan Schmidt, will take it away:<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span id=\"more-1432642\"><\/span><\/p>\n<h2><a name=\"what_is_SAD\"><\/a>What is Seasonal Affective Disorder?<\/h2>\n<p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Handling Seasonal Depression (6 tips to help!)\" width=\"950\" height=\"534\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/k2WtQigHW_k?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/p>\n<p><strong>As Coach Jim mentions in the video above, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a mood disorder that, spoiler alert, has a seasonal pattern.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>(Plus, it&#8217;s a really clever acronym.)<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s also known as: <\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Winter depression<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Winter blues<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Seasonal depression. <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In a nutshell<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, SAD makes people with \u2018normal\u2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdfitness.com\/blog\/a-nerds-introduction-to-mental-health\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">mental health<\/a>\u00a0experience depressive symptoms at a specific time each year &#8211; most often winter.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-3862436\" src=\"http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/charlie-brown-winter.gif\" alt=\"Charlie Brown saying &quot;I always end up feeling depressed.&quot;\" width=\"286\" height=\"209\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SAD can be a cruel, powerful, and damaging arctic foe. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But armed with the right weapons, we can ward off the winter monster, or even keep it in full hibernation.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b><a name=\"Do_I_have_SAD\"><\/a>How Do I Know if I have SAD?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-3862420\" src=\"http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/SAD-MARIO-1.jpg\" alt=\"This picture shows Mario acting a little SAD\" width=\"713\" height=\"315\" srcset=\"http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/SAD-MARIO-1.jpg 713w, http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/SAD-MARIO-1-300x133-1.jpg 300w, http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/SAD-MARIO-1-610x269-1.jpg 610w, http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/SAD-MARIO-1-600x265-1.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 713px) 100vw, 713px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Most of us feel a little glum in winter&#8230;it\u2019s natural to feel a little down. <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cold mornings, less time outside, and\u00a0often\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">it\u2019s not as easy to get out and do our favorite things:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-3862461\" src=\"http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/great-outdoors.gif\" alt=\"A gif of an RV outside\" width=\"424\" height=\"318\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So for a lot of us, winter just sucks a little.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>We&#8217;ve known something was up since the 6th century, but SAD remained a mythical creature until the 1980s in the West when it became officially recognized as a mood disorder. While we&#8217;re still not 100% sure of how it works; it\u2019s pretty clear to see that SAD especially thrives in cooler, darker climates.<\/p>\n<p>For example, studies show<a class=\"fn-ref-mark\" href=\"#footnote-1\" id=\"refmark-1\"><sup>[1]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0SAD&#8217;s prevalence in the U.S. ranges from around 1% in Florida to 9% in Alaska. Looking around the world, in Oslo, Norway, around 14% of the population will be impacted by SAD,<a class=\"fn-ref-mark\" href=\"#footnote-2\" id=\"refmark-2\"><sup>[2]<\/sup><\/a> while us lucky buggers Down Under are barely impacted at all, with estimates that only around 1 in 300 Aussies (0.33%)<a class=\"fn-ref-mark\" href=\"#footnote-3\" id=\"refmark-3\"><sup>[3]<\/sup><\/a> will experience SAD during the \u201cwinter.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-3862437\" src=\"http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/australia-winter-meme.png\" alt=\"A picture of a sand &quot;Snowman&quot; that says &quot;meanwhile in Australia&quot;\" width=\"519\" height=\"355\" srcset=\"http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/australia-winter-meme.png 570w, http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/australia-winter-meme-300x205-1.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 519px) 100vw, 519px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Yes, SAD can occur for some people during summer and other seasons, but this is particularly rare compared to winter prevalence.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Common SAD symptoms include<\/strong>:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">low mood for most of the day.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">loss of interest in your usual activities.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">drowsiness and low energy (lethargy).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">fatigue, irritability, and severe mood swings.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Irregular sleep patterns (too much and\/or too little)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">eating more than usual, especially craving sugar and carbohydrates, leading to weight gain.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">loss of interest in things you normally enjoy doing.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">intrusive or disturbing thoughts.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Depression is not just a fancy word for feeling \u201cbummed out\u201d, and SAD is <strong>just as serious as any other depression<\/strong> and needs to be dealt with promptly and effectively. (See the end of the article for a <a href=\"#more_help\">list of mental health services links<\/a>.)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;But how do I know the difference between general winter glumness, or if I\u2019m being mauled by the SAD beast like Leo in the Revenant?&#8221;<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-3862438\" src=\"http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/bear-attack.gif\" alt=\"This gif shows a man being attacked by a Bear, cartoon style. \" width=\"409\" height=\"308\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Ask yourself these questions:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u201cDo you feel like you can&#8217;t get yourself out of this rut?&#8221;<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<li><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cHave you lost an\u00a0interest in things that you usually enjoy?\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<li><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cHave you felt this way for more than\u00a0two weeks?\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If so, then it could be time to have a chat with a professional and perhaps seek treatment. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once again, SAD is just as real and can be just as devastating as Major Depressive Disorder; the only difference is the yearly regular onset. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This bitter beast can take over someone\u2019s entire well-being, and if left untreated, the consequences can be devastating.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So let\u2019s learn how we can slay the SAD, or even better, keep it in hibernation this year, so we nerds can continue to conquer all year round.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><a name=\"treating_SAD\"><\/a>What is the best treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder? (Slaying the SAD Beast)<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-3862421\" src=\"http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/SAD-Thrones.png\" alt=\"A picture of a Games of Thrones bobblehead, who is about to slay the SAD monster.\" width=\"714\" height=\"408\" srcset=\"http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/SAD-Thrones.png 714w, http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/SAD-Thrones-300x171-1.png 300w, http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/SAD-Thrones-610x349-1.png 610w, http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/SAD-Thrones-600x343-1.png 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 714px) 100vw, 714px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As with any <del>injury or illness<\/del> boss battle, you need to use the right <del>medicine<\/del> weapon to save the day. And there are many weapons you can equip yourself with to slay SAD.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Here is how to treat Seasonal Affective Disorder:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><b>#1) GET SOME LIGHT<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>Light helps the body\u00a0produce serotonin (hormone that affects mood) and reduces the production of melatonin (hormone that makes you sleepy).<a class=\"fn-ref-mark\" href=\"#footnote-4\" id=\"refmark-4\"><sup>[4]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Starting with natural light is best, even though it\u2019s not always easy.<\/strong> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If the sun happens to be peeking out from the clouds, try and get outside for a nice walk. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even on cold or cloudy days, outdoor light can help, particularly in the morning. Just make sure you bundle up properly. The Norwegians have a saying \u201cThere is no bad weather, only bad clothing!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Also, making your<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> work and home environments as light and airy as possible and sitting near windows can help too.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-3862442\" src=\"http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/star-trek-window.gif\" alt=\"A gif of someone opening a window to help with SAD\" width=\"374\" height=\"282\" \/><\/p>\n<p>If you feel you\u2019re just simply not able to get enough natural light, \u2018Light Therapy\u2019<b> <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">is generally one of the first weapons picked up to slay SAD.<a class=\"fn-ref-mark\" href=\"#footnote-5\" id=\"refmark-5\"><sup>[5]<\/sup><\/a> It can start alleviating symptoms in just a few days. It&#8217;s incredibly simple, and s<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">itting under bright fluorescent globes or in front of a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B00M3SGCUE\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">therapy lamp<\/a> (again, particularly in the morning) has shown to be effective against SAD<a class=\"fn-ref-mark\" href=\"#footnote-6\" id=\"refmark-6\"><sup>[6]<\/sup><\/a> (Anecdotal, but I once met a young woman who started to feel better just by increasing the wattage of her bedroom light globes).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Be forewarned that Light Therapy is not appropriate for everyone, including people with bipolar disorder &#8211;<\/em> talk to a professional if this is a route you want to take.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><b>#2) EXERCISE AND DIET<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Surprise, surprise, our old friends come to the rescue once again. It&#8217;s clear<a class=\"fn-ref-mark\" href=\"#footnote-7\" id=\"refmark-7\"><sup>[7]<\/sup><\/a> that exercise is key in keeping the blues at bay, so r<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ug up and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdfitness.com\/blog\/walking\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">take a long walk<\/a>, and be sure to work out when possible. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-3615505\" src=\"http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/gonzo-chicken.gif\" alt=\"Gonzo knows he has to eat protein to match his strength training goals, but he doesn&#039;t eat chicken, for obvious reasons.\" width=\"361\" height=\"361\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Exercise and other types of physical activity help relieve stress and anxiety, both of which can increase SAD symptoms.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re really keen to take on winter, try the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdfitness.com\/blog\/the-winter-is-coming-workout\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Winter Is Coming Workout<\/a>,\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and start building that summer body early. For those who don\u2019t like the freezing weather, that&#8217;s cool (get it?), you can always do Steve\u2019s <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdfitness.com\/blog\/2010\/12\/20\/the-20-minute-hotel-workout\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">20-minute hotel room workout<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (pro tip: you <em>don\u2019t<\/em> actually need to be staying in a hotel room to do the workout&#8230; that was $250 I\u2019ll never get back).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>As for nutrition &#8211; while there is no well-established link between healthy nutritional practices and a reduction in SAD symptoms.<\/strong> BUT, s<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">tudies HAVE shown links between healthy eating &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdfitness.com\/blog\/the-beginners-guide-to-the-mediterranean-diet\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">like the Mediterranean diet<\/a> &#8211; and a decrease in general depression.<a class=\"fn-ref-mark\" href=\"#footnote-8\" id=\"refmark-8\"><sup>[8]<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p>So anything we can do to eat healthy this time of year may certainly help.<\/p>\n<p>Plus,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdfitness.com\/blog\/7-emergency-hacks-to-stay-healthy-in-the-winter\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Steve has already highlighted<\/a> that\u00a0if you\u2019re going to eat unhealthy foods\u00a0during winter, let\u2019s at least be smart about it and negate the impact the\u00a0holidays have on our waistlines.\u00a0Try your best to provide a counterbalance to those comfort foods, and keep your diet as close as you can to what it is the rest of the year.<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong><b>#3) <\/b>GET SOME VITAMIN D<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>When exposure to sunlight is low, your body makes less Vitamin D.<a class=\"fn-ref-mark\" href=\"#footnote-9\" id=\"refmark-9\"><sup>[9]<\/sup><\/a> According to this study,<a class=\"fn-ref-mark\" href=\"#footnote-10\" id=\"refmark-10\"><sup>[10]<\/sup><\/a> Vitamin D deficiency affects nearly HALF of the world population. It is important for overall health. Our friends over at <a href=\"https:\/\/examine.com\/supplements\/Vitamin+D\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Examine say<\/a> that if your diet is decent and there&#8217;s only one supplement you&#8217;re taking, it should probably be Vitamin D during these upcoming months.<\/p>\n<p>The research is a little mixed when it comes to Vitamin D&#8217;s effectiveness in battling SAD,<a class=\"fn-ref-mark\" href=\"#footnote-11\" id=\"refmark-11\"><sup>[11]<\/sup><\/a> but some studies<a class=\"fn-ref-mark\" href=\"#footnote-12\" id=\"refmark-12\"><sup>[12]<\/sup><\/a> do show an improvement to everyone&#8217;s depression scale scores (those with or without SAD). Overall, if you aren&#8217;t getting enough sunlight in the winter, consider picking up some Vitamin D!<\/p>\n<p>Recommendations differ for the amount of Vitamin D needed &#8211; or if you even need it &#8211; so further blood work and a talk with your doctor is a good choice here.<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>#4) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdfitness.com\/blog\/meditation-building-the-superpower-you-didnt-even-know-you-had\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">MEDITATE<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Meditation has been shown to help alleviate symptoms of depression.<a class=\"fn-ref-mark\" href=\"#footnote-13\" id=\"refmark-13\"><sup>[13]<\/sup><\/a> Now, you don&#8217;t have to shed all your worldly possessions and go live in the mountains:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-3865450\" src=\"http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/aang-meditate.gif\" alt=\"Aang from the Last Airbender meditating \" width=\"440\" height=\"297\" \/><\/p>\n<p>But if you&#8217;re suffering from the winter blues, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdfitness.com\/blog\/a-nerds-guide-to-mindfulness\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">a simple mindfulness practice<\/a> may help. Even just a few minutes a day can go a long way.<\/p>\n<p>If you want, Nerd Fitness Journey has a meditation adventure to help you build up the habit.<\/p>\n<p><strong>It&#8217;s free to try, right here:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><b><\/p>\n<div class=\"nf-in-post-signup-leadin\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"nf-in-post-signup\" style=\"background: none; border: none;\">\n\t\t\t\t<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/click.nerdfitness.com\/8BxQ\/534d8131\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img class=\"desktop-show mobile-hide\" style=\"margin-left:auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/NF_Journey_GenericAd_Desktop_v3_A.jpg\" \/><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img class=\"desktop-hide mobile-show\" src=\"http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/NF_Journey_GeneralAd_Mobile_v3_A.jpg\" \/><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p>\t\t<\/b><\/p>\n<h3><strong>#5) EMBRACE THE SEASON<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Going back to foreign sayings &#8211; there\u2019s a Danish concept of \u201chygge.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While there\u2019s no direct English translation, it e<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ssentially means coziness and comfort<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Things like:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wrapping yourself up in a blanket.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Enjoying a good book.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Or sitting by a warm fire.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-3951489\" src=\"http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/garfield.gif\" alt=\"Garfield sitting by fire\" width=\"487\" height=\"338\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So instead of lamenting the change of seasons &#8211;\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">EMBRACE these other experiences that we get to enjoy.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>#6) THERAPY<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Talk Therapy (Psychotherapy) and cognitive behavioral therapy sound scary but really aren&#8217;t. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Psychotherapy focuses on helping you to build skills to deal with the stresses in your life, along with identifying and changing negative thinking patterns. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Therapies such as these assist with relearning some of the patterns and thoughts in your life that aren&#8217;t doing you any good.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>(You can read the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdfitness.com\/blog\/a-nerds-introduction-to-mental-health\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Nerd Fitness Guide to Mental Health<\/a> for more info.)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>It can feel daunting and really weird &#8216;opening up&#8217; to a stranger at first.<\/p>\n<p><strong>But having a coach to talk through your negative thoughts and feelings, someone who can teach you to manage those better, is generally quite effective.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Most people will notice an improvement in as little as two weeks. Really, the &#8220;weird&#8221; stigma is usually the biggest barrier to even doing the thing in the first place!<\/p>\n<h3><b>#7) MEDICATION<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Finally, some people with SAD benefit from antidepressant treatment,<\/strong> especially if symptoms are severe. We\u2019re not here to offer any medical advice, so please see your doctor if you think medication may assist you.<\/p>\n<h2><a name=\"SAD_next_steps\"><\/a>Moving forward with SAD (This too shall pass)<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-3862427\" src=\"http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/LINK-SUN.jpg\" alt=\"A picture of Link in the sun, who overcame SAD\" width=\"713\" height=\"475\" srcset=\"http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/LINK-SUN.jpg 713w, http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/LINK-SUN-300x200-1.jpg 300w, http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/LINK-SUN-610x406-1.jpg 610w, http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/LINK-SUN-600x400-1.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 713px) 100vw, 713px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>It&#8217;s normal to have some days when you feel down, and the holiday season can be especially hard for some.<\/strong> <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When short days and miserable weather are piled on top of this, it&#8217;s easy to see why &#8216;winter blues&#8217; is so common. But if you feel down for days at a time and you can&#8217;t get motivated to do activities you normally enjoy, <strong><em>please<\/em><\/strong> speak to someone and see your doctor. This is especially important if your sleep patterns and appetite have changed, you feel a sense of hopelessness, you have intrusive thoughts, or you turn to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdfitness.com\/blog\/alcohol\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">alcohol<\/a>\/substances for comfort or relaxation. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Above all, <strong>take care of yourself this winter:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Be sure to get enough rest, and take the\u00a0time to relax. <\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Participate in an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdfitness.com\/blog\/the-7-best-at-home-workout-routines-the-ultimate-guide-for-training-without-a-gym\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">exercise program<\/a>\u00a0or engage in another form of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdfitness.com\/blog\/25-ways-to-exercise-without-realizing-it\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">regular physical activity<\/a>. <\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Get outside when you can. <\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Make <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdfitness.com\/blog\/healthy-eating\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">healthy choices for meals<\/a> and snacks when possible. <\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reach out to a trusted friend, family member, or health professional if you feel you&#8217;re having a tough time. <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And if someone reaches out to you, remember<em>:\u00a0<\/em><strong>We are Rebels<\/strong>, we fight conventional wisdom and smash stigmas. Never leave a fellow nerd behind.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-3862471\" src=\"http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/rock-together.gif\" alt=\"The Rock saying &quot;we have to do this together&quot;\" width=\"428\" height=\"226\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you feel the bitter, arctic beast starting to rise from its summer slumber, remember that you are not alone, and there are ways to slay the frosty fiend. <strong>You are strong enough to beat this<\/strong>, and the entire Rebellion has your back.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em>Want a little more from us?<\/em><\/p>\n<p>If you want to continue your journey with <strong>Nerd Fitness<\/strong>, we have three great ways for you to do so:<\/p>\n<p><b>#1) Our <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdfitness.com\/coaching-overview-page\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><b>Online Coaching Program<\/b><\/a><b>: a coaching program for busy people to help them make better food choices, stay accountable, and get healthier, permanently.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can schedule a free call with our team so we can get to know you and see if our coaching program is right for you. Just click on the button below for more details:<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\t<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/coaching-overview-page\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n\t\t<button class=\"cta-button red\"><br \/>\n\t\t\tOur coaching program changes lives. Learn how!\t\t<\/button><br \/>\n\t<\/a><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>#2) <\/b><b>If you want an exact roadmap for getting fit, check out NF Journey. <\/b>Our fun habit-building app helps you exercise more frequently, eat healthier, and level up your life (literally).<\/p>\n<p>Plus, we have Missions specifically designed to help you stay active, no matter what the weather is like outside.<\/p>\n<p><b>Try your free trial right here:<\/b><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><b><\/p>\n<div class=\"nf-in-post-signup-leadin\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"nf-in-post-signup\" style=\"background: none; border: none;\">\n\t\t\t\t<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/click.nerdfitness.com\/8BxQ\/534d8131\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img class=\"desktop-show mobile-hide\" style=\"margin-left:auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/NF_Journey_GenericAd_Desktop_v3_A.jpg\" \/><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img class=\"desktop-hide mobile-show\" src=\"http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/NF_Journey_GeneralAd_Mobile_v3_A.jpg\" \/><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p>\t\t<\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>#3) Join the Rebellion!<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> We need good people like you in our community, the Nerd Fitness Rebellion.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sign up in the box below to enlist and get our <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rebel Starter Kit<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which includes all of our \u201cwork out at home\u201d guides, the Nerd Fitness Diet Cheat Sheet, and much more!<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"nf-in-post-signup-leadin\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"nf-in-post-signup one-column split yellow-cta shortcode-form-12 \">\n<div class=\"nf-signup-intro\">\n<div><span style=\"font-weight:700\">Get your Nerd Fitness Starter Kit<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"nf-signup-benefit\">\n<ul>\n<li>The 15 mistakes you don\u2019t want to make.<\/li>\n<li>Full guide to the most effective diet and why it works.<\/li>\n<li>Complete and track your first workout today, no gym required.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"nf-signup-form\"><img class=\"asset-image\" src=\"&gt;\" \/><\/p>\n<form accept-charset=\"UTF-8\" action=\"https:\/\/app.convertkit.com\/forms\/3351751\/subscriptions\" data-sv-form=\"3351751\" data-uid=\"7a45ac8ba2\" data-version=\"5\" class=\"infusion-form\" data-options=\"{&quot;settings&quot;:{&quot;after_subscribe&quot;:{&quot;action&quot;:&quot;redirect&quot;,&quot;success_message&quot;:&quot;Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription.&quot;,&quot;redirect_url&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.nerdfitness.com\/one-last-step\/&quot;},&quot;analytics&quot;:{&quot;google&quot;:null,&quot;fathom&quot;:null,&quot;facebook&quot;:null,&quot;segment&quot;:null,&quot;pinterest&quot;:null,&quot;sparkloop&quot;:null,&quot;googletagmanager&quot;:null},&quot;modal&quot;:{&quot;trigger&quot;:&quot;timer&quot;,&quot;scroll_percentage&quot;:null,&quot;timer&quot;:5,&quot;devices&quot;:&quot;all&quot;,&quot;show_once_every&quot;:15},&quot;powered_by&quot;:{&quot;show&quot;:false,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/convertkit.com\/features\/forms?utm_campaign=poweredby&amp;utm_content=form&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=dynamic&quot;},&quot;recaptcha&quot;:{&quot;enabled&quot;:false},&quot;return_visitor&quot;:{&quot;action&quot;:&quot;show&quot;,&quot;custom_content&quot;:&quot;&quot;},&quot;slide_in&quot;:{&quot;display_in&quot;:&quot;bottom_right&quot;,&quot;trigger&quot;:&quot;timer&quot;,&quot;scroll_percentage&quot;:null,&quot;timer&quot;:5,&quot;devices&quot;:&quot;all&quot;,&quot;show_once_every&quot;:15},&quot;sticky_bar&quot;:{&quot;display_in&quot;:&quot;top&quot;,&quot;trigger&quot;:&quot;timer&quot;,&quot;scroll_percentage&quot;:null,&quot;timer&quot;:5,&quot;devices&quot;:&quot;all&quot;,&quot;show_once_every&quot;:15}},&quot;version&quot;:&quot;5&quot;}\" method=\"POST\" id=\"inf_form_12c97c001a652ac813119a536e4fb4a4\"><input name=\"inf_form_xid\" type=\"hidden\" value=\"12c97c001a652ac813119a536e4fb4a4\" \/><input name=\"inf_form_name\" type=\"hidden\" value=\"Plugin Signup\" \/><input name=\"infusionsoft_version\" type=\"hidden\" value=\"1.68.0.144\" \/><input class=\"infusion-field-input-container\" id=\"inf_field_Email\" name=\"email_address\" type=\"email\" required placeholder=\"Your Email\" \/><input name=\"null\" type=\"hidden\" value=\"null\" \/><input style=\"display:none;\" class=\"infusion-field-input-container\" id=\"inf_custom_SiteSignupURL\" name=\"inf_custom_SiteSignupURL\" type=\"text\" value=\"http:\/\/www.nerdfitness.com\/blog\/feed\/\" \/><input style=\"display:none;\" class=\"infusion-field-input-container\" id=\"inf_custom_SignupPostID\" name=\"inf_custom_SignupPostID\" type=\"text\" value=\"1432642\" \/>\t<input name=\"inf_custom_CoachingOriginURL\" type=\"hidden\" value=\"\" \/><br \/>\n\t<input name=\"inf_custom_CoachingOriginLandingPage\" type=\"hidden\" value=\"\" \/><br \/>\n\t<input name=\"inf_custom_IPAddress\" type=\"hidden\" value=\"95.114.115.105\" \/><br \/>\n\t<input name=\"inf_custom_CookieLastMedium\" type=\"hidden\" value=\"\" \/><br \/>\n\t<input name=\"inf_custom_CookieLastCampaign\" type=\"hidden\" value=\"\" \/><br \/>\n\t<input name=\"inf_custom_CookieLastSource\" type=\"hidden\" value=\"\" \/><br \/>\n\t<input name=\"inf_custom_CookieLastTerm\" type=\"hidden\" value=\"\" \/><br \/>\n\t<input name=\"inf_custom_CookieLastContent\" type=\"hidden\" value=\"\" \/><br \/>\n\t<input name=\"inf_custom_CoachingOptinFormFilledDate\" type=\"hidden\" value=\"2022-11-04 01:55:32\" \/><br \/>\n\t<input name=\"inf_custom_infcustomcoachvariation\" type=\"hidden\" value=\"\" \/><br \/>\n\t<input name=\"inf_custom_FacebookBrowserId\" type=\"hidden\" value=\"\" \/><br \/>\n\t<input name=\"inf_custom_FacebookClickId\" type=\"hidden\" value=\"\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"infusion-submit\">\t<input class=\"opt-in-submit button infusion-recaptcha\" id=\"recaptcha_12c97c001a652ac813119a536e4fb4a4\" type=\"submit\" value=\" Level Up!\" \/><\/div>\n<\/form>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"clearme\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Alright, that does it for me. Rebels, take care of yourself and each other.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><em><strong>Do you have your own secret weapon to slay the SAD?<\/strong> We&#8217;d love to hear from all you Rebels about how you keep your mind healthy during winter; the more ideas we all have, the better! Let us know in the comments!<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>&#8211; Dan<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><a name=\"more_help\"><\/a>PS &#8211;\u00a0<\/strong>If you, or someone you know, would like further support, here are some excellent links and services that will get you started in the right direction:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>North America \u2013 <a href=\"http:\/\/www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Suicide Prevention Lifeline<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.womenshealth.gov\/mental-health\/hotlines\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">List of Mental Health hotlines<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Canada \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.crisisservicescanada.ca\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Suicide Prevention Service<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ctvnews.ca\/mental-health-in-canada-where-to-get-help-1.704877\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">List of Mental Health services<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Great Britain &amp; Ireland \u2013 <a href=\"http:\/\/www.samaritans.org\/how-we-can-help-you\/contact-us\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Samaritans<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mentalhealth.org.uk\/your-mental-health\/getting-help\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">List of services via Mental Health Foundation<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Australia \u2013\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.beyondblue.org.au\/get-support\/national-help-lines-and-websites\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">National helplines and websites<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lifeline.org.au\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Lifeline<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/headspace.org.au\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">headspace<\/a><\/li>\n<li>New Zealand \u2013 <a href=\"http:\/\/www.lifeline.org.nz\/corp_Home_378_2001.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Lifeline<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mentalhealth.org.nz\/get-help\/in-crisis\/helplines\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Mental Health helplines<\/a><\/li>\n<li>India \u2013 <a href=\"http:\/\/www.snehaindia.org\/services.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">SNEHA<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Norway &#8211; <a href=\"http:\/\/ibpf.org\/resource\/suicide-hotline-norway\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Suicide hotline<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Worldwide \u2013 <a href=\"http:\/\/www.yourlifecounts.org\/need-help\/crisis-lines\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Worldwide mental health hotlines<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.suicide.org\/international-suicide-hotlines.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Worldwide suicide hotlines<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.befrienders.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Befrienders Worldwide<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>###<\/p>\n<p>Photo source: lilu330 \u00a9 123RF.com<\/p>\n<div id=\"footnote-list\" style=\"display:none;\"><span id=\"fn-heading\">Footnotes<\/span> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;( returns to text)<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li id=\"footnote-1\" class=\"fn-text\">Read, &#8220;Shedding Light on Seasonal Affective Disorder.&#8221; Source, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.liebertpub.com\/doi\/abs\/10.1089\/act.2008.14608\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Mary Ann Liebert<\/a>.<a href=\"#refmark-1\"><\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"footnote-2\" class=\"fn-text\">Read, &#8220;Seasonal Affective Disorder.&#8221; Source, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC2686645\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">PubMed<\/a>.<a href=\"#refmark-2\"><\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"footnote-3\" class=\"fn-text\">Read, &#8220;How common is seasonal affective disorder in temperate Australia? &#8221; Source, <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/15183596\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">PubMed<\/a>.<a href=\"#refmark-3\"><\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"footnote-4\" class=\"fn-text\">Read, &#8220;How to increase serotonin in the human brain without drugs&#8221; Source, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC2077351\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">PubMed,<\/a> and &#8220;Light, melatonin and the sleep-wake cycle.&#8221; Source, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC1188623\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">PubMed<\/a>.<a href=\"#refmark-4\"><\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"footnote-5\" class=\"fn-text\">Read, &#8220;Seasonal affective disorder treatment: Choosing a light therapy box.&#8221; Souce, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/seasonal-affective-disorder\/in-depth\/seasonal-affective-disorder-treatment\/art-20048298\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Mayo Clinic<\/a>.<a href=\"#refmark-5\"><\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"footnote-6\" class=\"fn-text\">Read, &#8220;Bright Light Therapy: Seasonal Affective Disorder and Beyond.&#8221; Souce, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6746555\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">PubMed<\/a>.<a href=\"#refmark-6\"><\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"footnote-7\" class=\"fn-text\">Read, &#8220;The Benefits of Exercise for the Clinically Depressed.&#8221; Souce, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC474733\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">PubMed<\/a>.<a href=\"#refmark-7\"><\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"footnote-8\" class=\"fn-text\">You can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC7536728\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">read this study<\/a> for more.<a href=\"#refmark-8\"><\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"footnote-9\" class=\"fn-text\">Read, &#8220;Is Sunlight Exposure Enough to Avoid Wintertime Vitamin D Deficiency in United Kingdom Population Groups?&#8221; Source, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6121420\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">PubMed<\/a>.<a href=\"#refmark-9\"><\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"footnote-10\" class=\"fn-text\">Read, &#8220;Vitamin D: The \u201csunshine\u201d vitamin.&#8221; Source, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3356951\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">PubMed<\/a>.<a href=\"#refmark-10\"><\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"footnote-11\" class=\"fn-text\">Read, &#8220;Vitamin D and Seasonal Affective Disorder Symptoms.&#8221; Souce, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.psychologytoday.com\/us\/blog\/the-red-light-district\/201501\/vitamin-d-and-seasonal-affective-disorder-symptoms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Psychology Today<\/a>.<a href=\"#refmark-11\"><\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"footnote-12\" class=\"fn-text\">Read, &#8220;Vitamin D vs broad spectrum phototherapy in the treatment of seasonal affective disorder.&#8221; Souce, <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/10888476\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">PubMed<\/a>.<a href=\"#refmark-12\"><\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"footnote-13\" class=\"fn-text\">Read, \u201cEffect of meditation on neurophysiological changes in stress mediated depression.\u201d Source, <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/24439650\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">PubMed<\/a>.<a href=\"#refmark-13\"><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<p>The post <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdfitness.com\/blog\/is-seasonal-affective-disorder-a-real-thing-how-to-slay-the-sad-beast\/\">What is Seasonal Affective Disorder? (How to Slay SAD!)<\/a> first appeared on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdfitness.com\">Nerd Fitness<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Winter is approaching and with it comes SAD. No, I don\u2019t mean the emotion (although that\u2019s part of it). I\u2019m talking about Seasonal Affective Disorder. Luckily, we have some tips and tricks for treating SAD that our Online Coaching Clients use. Today, we\u2019ll share them with you too. Here\u2019s what we\u2019ll cover: What is Seasonal [\u2026]<br \/>\nThe post What is Seasonal Affective Disorder? (How to Slay SAD!) first appeared on Nerd Fitness.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7465,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":""},"categories":[20,1,21,22,19],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7463"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7463"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7463\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7491,"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7463\/revisions\/7491"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7465"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7463"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7463"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7463"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}