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Winter Blues
Winter Blues
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For many, it is called the winter time blues; and for most of us it is a minor, but annoying, problem. The holidays are over, its dark and dreary early in the afternoon, and it is difficult to do any kind of outdoor activity because it's cold and windy. Need I say more?
Fortunately, most of us learn to cope by fantasizing about warmer days or, if we are lucky, getting away for a warm vacation. But there is always the option of getting out the coat and gloves and going for a brisk walk.
Unfortunately, some people have more than a minor problem this time of year. For people with seasonal effective disorder, the depression can become severe, so severe that it's crippling. Over the past few years, scientists have shown in repeated studies that this is due to a certain part of the brain that responds to light. Using banks of high intensity lights and asking patients to get a daily dose of the brightness has helped reverse symptoms. Now, if you suffer from seasonal effective disorder, or think you do, talk to your physician about it.
I'm Dr. Brian McDonough.
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