Winter can be a challenging time of year for seniors. The cold alone can make you question leaving the house, and the risks only get worse from there, from a spike in those arthritis symptoms to an increased chance of slipping and falling as you travel. But one subtle yet significant threat that often quietly slips into the mix during those gray, doldrum months is the condition commonly referred to as seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
This mood-shifting, blues-inducing malady has proven to be quite a difficult issue to tangle with as the winter days run into weeks and then months, seemingly with no end in sight. Here are some tips and tricks you can implement to help diagnose, treat, and even prevent those SAD symptoms from popping up whenever the temperature drops and you buckle up for the long winter ahead.
Prevent It!
Let’s start with a few tips to help head off SAD and keep you from slipping into those depressing thoughts. First and foremost, if you typically experience the disorder each year, make sure that you communicate with your healthcare providers before it becomes an issue. While we are all familiar with the concept of paying the doctor a visit for an existing problem, attempting to head off illness by talking to a physician or a nurse can be a great way to help identify risk factors and facilitate your access to preventative care and education.
Other preventative efforts can be quite simple. For example, you may want to simply increase the amount of sunshine that’s getting into your abode whenever possible. Open up those shades and drapes. You can also make a more concerted effort to get outside whenever the weather permits. Even if you can’t get outdoors, take the time to exercise regularly as well. Doing so can obviously do wonders for your health in general, but its help in preventing the onset of SAD cannot be understated.
Get a Massage
Whether it’s done as a preventative measure or in reaction to a full-on bout of depression, getting a massage can be a nice way to combat the symptoms. There are many natural benefits to massages, as they can help to improve your sleep, relieve your stress, and better your overall mood. While it is wonderful to be able to get a professional massage on a regular basis — and by all means, do so if you can afford it — if the cost of a professional massage is out of your budget, you may want to consider getting a massage belt.
Try Some Aromatherapy
Another excellent option is to consider aromatherapy. Filling your house with pleasant scents that are aimed at overcoming that seasonal melancholy can be just what the doctor ordered. But, as with most health remedies, you’re going to want to be careful how you go about creating an aromatherapy setup within your own home.
One of the most common drug-free aromatherapy options is to use essential oils, which are widely touted as helpful solutions in lifting depression or relieving anxiety. Some of the most common oils used for this purpose include lavender, wild ginger, and bergamot, although there are many other options as well. However, if you decide to give essential oils a try, make sure that you educate yourself on their proper uses. Just because they are drug-free doesn’t mean they are harmless when ingested. While using them in a diffuser can be an excellent way to help brighten the mood, topical application and ingestion carry a wide variety of risks with them, from a lack of FDA regulation to the simple fact that they could have an adverse reaction with some medications. Make sure to do your homework and ask a doctor before use.
