Worried about winter? 10 ways to thrive from socialising to Sad lamps to celebrating the new year in April

"Stephanie Fitzgerald, a chartered clinical psychologist, used to dread winter. Like many, she coped by keeping busy at work and hibernating at home, waiting for the cold, dark days to be over. But this approach wasn't making her happy. So she sought out the science that would help her embrace the winter months, rather than try to escape them. In her resulting book, The Gifts of Winter, she writes: I fell deeply in love with winter It is a captivating and truly gorgeous season."

"It's normal to have a mild case of the winter blues, but seasonal affective disorder is so much more than that it's all-pervasive. And it can develop at any age. As a neuropsychologist, it's a really embarrassing thing to admit, but I didn't realise I had Sad, she says. I'd never really had any issue with winter until my mid-20s, but year on year, it was getting harder."

"After researching the subject, Fitzgerald now manages her symptoms from October to April by sitting in front of a Sad lamp for at least 60 minutes every morning, using a sunrise/sunset alarm clock, taking vitamin D, eating well, exercising and getting plenty of sleep. In her book, she writes: I feel more balanced, stronger, better able to cope, less emotional and overall lighter. She advises seeing a healthcare professional if you too are struggling with winter depression."

Many people dread winter and cope by keeping busy or hibernating at home, but avoidance does not improve mood. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) can be all-pervasive, develop at any age, and may provoke panic as daylight decreases. Practical management from October to April includes daily morning light therapy for about 60 minutes, using a sunrise/sunset alarm clock, taking vitamin D, eating well, exercising regularly, and maintaining good sleep hygiene. These strategies can produce greater balance, strength, emotional stability, and a lighter mood. Professional medical advice should be sought when winter depression significantly impairs daily functioning.

Read at www.theguardian.com