There was a common theme to things people on the street had to say yesterday.
"Man. I just can't wait for this weather to be over."
"I'm ready, I'm ready for spring. I think everyone is...right?"
Normally, about 20% of us develop the winter blues. This year, Dr. Joseph Garbely, the medical director at Friend's Hospital, says the number is undoubtedly higher.
Shorter days and less sunlight combine to temporarily change our brain chemistry. So called "good mood" chemicals like serotonin and norepinephrine go down. But other chemicals like melatonin go up. Aside from biology, the numerous snow storms most likely also play a role and make it easy to get down in the dumps.
"You may want to sleep a little bit more, you may feel like it's a little bit more difficult to get up, go to work, and do things," Garbely said. " I think that it's not truly a major depressive episode, yet it does affect our day-to-day lives.
To fight the winter blues, Dr. Garbely prescribes a dose of healthy living.
You should exercise and stay active.
Eating the right types of food also helps; Try more proteins from lean meats and poultry, cheese, and beans. They can increase concentration and alertness. (Maybe that's why we like chili so much in winter). Fish like salmon and tuna contain Omega-3 fatty acids and they have the mineral selenium.Studies show too little selenium can make you cranky, and irritable.
Some people have a more serious version of the winter blues called SAD - Seasonal Affective Disorder. For that, sessions in front of a special light often help.
""This lightbox can reverse all those changes in the brain, and can actually cause some to have a fairly quick response (within 4 to 5 days). And it's a lasting response," says Dr. Garbely.But for the majority of us with just mild winter blues there is some good news: The official start to spring is just three weeks away.
