How to Beat the Winter Blues for Seniors in Escanaba

Beating the winter blues is best done by combining a variety of different treatments and lifestyle changes. Light therapy, exercise, diet changes, and quality sleep can all help improve your mood during the fall and winter months.

Situated on Little Bay de Noc, Escanaba is a great area for seniors to live throughout the year. Despite this, winters can hit hard and can lead to feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and despair. 5% of adults in the U.S. experience the winter blues each year, so if you're suffering from them yourself, you're not alone.

If you're experiencing the winter blues, don't give up on getting rid of them. Here's how to beat the winter blues as a senior living in Escanaba, MI. 

How Long Do Winter Blues Usually Last?

The winter blues are not uncommon, and many seniors throughout the country find that they suffer from them once the fall and winter months roll around. Also known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD), the winter blues can start as early as October or as late as February.After October, if you suddenly start noticing symptoms such as mood changes, trouble concentrating, weight changes, and a tendency to oversleep, it's likely that you have a case of the winter blues.

While not all cases will go on for the entire five months spanning between October and February, many seniors suffer from the symptoms throughout the fall and winter. Taking the right actions as soon as you notice symptoms will help give you relief and make your year much more enjoyable.

It's important to move past the stigma in mental health and seek seasonal mood support. Taking steps to improve your mental and emotional wellness can help shorten seasonal depression and allow you to get more enjoyment out of the colder months of the year.

What Is the Best Thing for Winter Blues?

Since a lack of sunlight exposure is one of the main contributors to the winter blues, going outside regularly and opening your blinds more often are great first steps toward relief. Getting more sunlight can help repair the problems that come from not getting enough sun exposure, such as a vitamin D deficiency, an increase in melatonin, and a decrease in serotonin.

Because it can be tricky to get enough sunlight in the fall and winter, it can also be helpful to make use of light therapy tips. In light therapy, artificial light will be used to provide some of the same benefits of sunlight. This can help improve your wellbeing during the colder months when it's hard to get out into the sun often enough.

In addition to coping with low daylight and getting more sun exposure, making lifestyle changes can also be helpful.Exercising more often, getting better quality sleep, improving your diet, and socializing with friends and family are all ways that you can start improving your emotional health.

In addition to these steps, a medical professional may also recommend. A doctor may recommend seasonal depression treatment options such as:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Talk therapy
• Antidepressants
• Increasing vitamin D intake

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Toughest Month of SAD?

Although symptoms of SAD can start occurring as early as October, the worst months tend to be January and February. These months affect emotional wellness in seniors more significantly because they tend to have less sunlight and days aren't as long as in other months of the year.

Everyone's experience of the winter blues is different, however, so it's up to you to keep track of the symptoms. If mood changes in the winter have become difficult for you, be sure to speak with a doctor to get treatment recommendations and start taking steps to get relief. 

How to Avoid Winter Depression?

To avoid winter depression before you start noticing symptoms, you'll want to participate in a lot of the same activities that would give you relief after the fact. Setting good daily and weekly habits is essential if you want to keep your spirits up and stay in a great mood throughout the season.

Participating in wellness activities, spending time in the sun, getting more vitamin D, getting enough high-quality sleep each night, and spending time socializing can all be helpful moves to make. Look for indoor activity ideas and habits that will improve your mood and help you feel more at ease.

What Vitamin Helps With Winter Depression?

Many people claim that vitamin D is a cure-all for winter depression, and in many cases, it can help improve your mood greatly. It also offers other benefits and can help improve the immune system, the brain, and bone health.

If you're deficient in vitamin D due to a lack of sun exposure, then increasing your vitamin D intake may make a big impact on your mood and will help relieve the symptoms of SAD. This method can be hit-or-miss, however, and not everyone will reverse seasonal depression with vitamin D alone. Using a combination of treatments is the best strategy for getting rid of the winter blues.

In addition to vitamin D, other vitamins may help improve your health and help regulate your mood as well. B vitamins, vitamin C, magnesium, zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids all play a role in helping regulate emotions and mood.

Learning How to Beat the Winter Blues in Escanaba, MI

When learning how to beat the winter blues, don't just use one treatment option. Take steps to improve your habits in addition to considering treatment options such as light therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. Doing so will give you the best chance of staying emotionally healthy during the winter season.

If you want to live your best life as a senior, consider making the move to an assisted living community in Escanaba, MI. With amazing amenities, excellent floor plans, fun activities, and a focus on wellness, you'll feel right at home at LakeHouse Escanaba.

Want to learn more about assisted senior living? Reach out to us today to learn more about what LakeHouse Escanaba has to offer seniors in Michigan.