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Posted by Rebecca Ford Oct 29, 2007 |
Bleah! The clocks have just gone back an hour in Britain, which means it's now dark horribly early in the evening. For anyone suffering from SAD (short for Seasonal Affective Disorder) this annoying time change is a trigger for the winter blues (and an extra hour in bed on the morning of the change just isn't sufficient compensation).
It gets harder to get up in the morning, you feel miserable, lethargic, start to crave carbs and go into a sort of hibernation. Winter's bad enough as it is, but if we could keep to British Summer Time all year round, at least we'd get a bit more evening light. This twice yearly time change (Spring Forward, Fall Back is the way to remember it) should surely be consigned to history.
If you do suffer from SAD, what can you do to alleviate the blues? Well, a special SAD lamp makes an enormous difference. There are plenty on the market now and they really do help. You have to switch them on for around 2 hours each day - ideally in the morning, and the light has to fall on your eyes. Mine sits by my desk - I've just got it out of the cupboard where it has sat for months.
It's also worth spending longer out of doors in winter - especially if you see some sun. Take lots of walks, the combination of exercise and daylight plays a part in beating the blues.