Therapies for SAD

The therapies identified here are based on approaches to tackling the symptoms across a range of ideas, by people who also have the condition. We also look at understanding the problem - the insights might help you. For example, just reminding yourself that you feel 'down' because of chemicals in your brain and that you CAN adjust that balance; also, the condition will improve in springtime.

We list specific ways in which we can adjust that chemical (im)balance. The following are generally recognised as influencing either or both of seratonin and melatonin levels in the brain:

• light boxes at home - high intensity daylight lamps
• natural light - holidays in the tropics, maybe living in brighter places 
• music which makes you happy
• laughter - humour is a great tonic
• exercise
• activity or keeping busy
• natural remedies (a section of its own)
• specific foods - oily fish, egg yolks, liver
• keeping a pet

Keeping busy with multiple activities (i.e. filling your time up) reduces the amount of time you have for looking inward and being miserable. CLICK A LINK

• Understanding SAD
  
  How reading about SAD may be helpful in understanding SAD
• Light Therapies
  
  Light therapies for SAD sufferers
• Activity therapy
  
  Being busy as a therapy for SAD sufferers
• Dietary balance
  
  A discussion on the potential for dietary changes to alleviate symptoms of SAD
• Exercise Therapy
  
  Exercise as a therapy for SAD sufferers - yoga, cycling, weights
• Laughter Therapy
  
  Humour as another factor in alleviating SAD.
• Music Therapy
  
  Happy music for sufferers of seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
• Social Therapy
  
  Social Therapy - meeting people as a component in an holistic approach to managing SAD.
• Pet Therapy
  
  An article about how keeping pets can help alleviate the syptoms of seasonal affective disorder.