Can the weather really affect my mood?
Date Posted:6 May 2013
Do you typically find during autumn and winter you can …
- Feel less motivated
- Have difficulty waking up in the morning
- Tend to oversleep and over eat
- Crave carbohydrates which can lead to weight gain
- Experience a lack of energy
- Have difficulty concentrating on or completing tasks
- Withdraw from friends, family, and social activities
- Have a decreased sex drive
- Experience pessimistic feelings of hopelessness and lack of pleasure
If you can say yes to a number of the symptoms above then you may be experiencing S.A.D – Seasonal Affective Disorder – as some people experience a serious mood change when the seasons change.
Described and named in 1984 by Dr Norman E. Rosenthal – author, psychiatrist and scientist, S.A.D. is a mood disorder where people who have normal mental health throughout most of the year experience depressive symptoms as the season changes - notably winter and in some cases summer. When the condition presents in the summer, the symptoms are a little different than the winter symptoms above. Summer symptoms of S.A.D. are more commonly insomnia, poor appetite and weight loss, in addition to irritability, difficulty concentrating, and crying spells.
Timeless wisdom
Ayurveda for over 3000 years has understood the importance of managing the seasonal changes in order to maintain mental and physical wellbeing. This is particularly important for Kapha and Vata natures during autumn and winter. When ‘outside’ provides less light or fire (daylight and warmth from the sun) then Kapha and Vata types who are naturally low in the elements of fire are more susceptible to being under-resourced leading to imbalance and the symptoms of S.A.D.
Maharishi Ayurveda comes to the rescue
What a relief it is when one understands what to do to restore balance at this time of the year.
Herbals
- Restore mental and physical balance with Blissful Joy Tablets – 1-2 tablets after lunch and evening meal.
- Boost the fire element from within – take the amazing Rejuvenation Plus 1 tablet prior breakfast and lunch.
- Support digestion to uphold mental and physical energy especially prior the evening meal. Take 2 tablets of Digest Tone prior evening meal and 2 tablets at bedtime (if bowel elimination is irregular ie less than daily).
- Drink Kapha Tea or Vata Tea – 3-4 cups a day.
Lifestyle
Sleep
Be sure to be in bed by 9 - 9.45 pm and rise by 6 am, even if you need to use an alarm. Avoid sleeping more than 8-9 hours a night.
Diet
In addition favour warm food and drinks and avoid heavy meals in the evening, taking a light evening meal and a larger lunch. A heavier evening meal can give a drugged heavy effect that can last for two to three days.
Exercise
Nothing increases the fire element so successfully over time as does a daily walk or exercise for 30 minutes. It is also important not to overdo exercise at this time as we want to stimulate energy rather than expend it all in exercise. Less is more in this case.
Meditation
Closing ones eyes for a few minutes morning and evening to practise Transcendental Meditation (New Zealand or Australia) has a profound effect on helping to reduce the symptoms of S.A.D.
Have fun
Laughter reduces the level of stress hormones such as cortisol, epinephrine (adrenaline), dopamine and growth hormone. It also increases the level of health-enhancing hormones like endorphins, and neurotransmitters too. So look for opportunities to laugh and take the support of the Blissful Joy tablets to help increase your fun quotient this season!
The Get Balance Team
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