Dealing with Blues in the Elderly

Decreased activity is winter months is likely to cause depression in some people. And this type of depression is prevalent in the elderly. Winter is a time when you may feel uncomfortable, as the mood swings, there is a sort of hibernation effect and people feel there is the lack of everything. However much they try to be positive, they slowly fall into the feeling low, dejected and generally irritable.

“Winter blues” is not uncommon and regardless of gender, most people experience it at some point in their lives.

One of the main reasons is the seasonal variation of light to the pineal gland.  This is because winter brings less light, prolonged darkness and lethargy due to the cold weather.

Exposure to sunlight also boosts levels of serotonin, the chemical which makes us feel happy. During the winter months the body produces less serotonin, which can also lead to depression. Exposure to sunlight boosts the serotonin levels in the body. This is the chemical which makes us feel happy. In winter, the body produces less serotonin and this is the main reason for the seasonal depression.

In olden days, when people were closer to nature, seasonal depression was an accepted part of life. It was accepted that people have upheaval in moods as the body often starts resisting the coming of darkness as well as the introspection that accompanies it. Here are some tips to make you feel brighter.

Get some fresh air every morning: Spending most of your time in a well-lit office or home will certainly help in boosting the amount of light you get each day in winter. However, artificial light can be weaker than the natural light. It has been a medical belief that our bodies need to be exposed to light each morning. Being out in the sunlight for half an hour in the mornings allows the natural clock in the body to work correctly.

Get a dawn simulation alarm clock: In ancient days, there were no alarm clocks to help people rise in the morning. People woke up every morning by the rise of the sun. Today, new research shows that alarm clocks that mimic the natural dawn actually help in reducing seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Research from the University Of Washington School Of Medicine in America suggests that this is a good way to keep winter blues at bay. These alarm clocks produce light that gets brighter and brighter in your bedroom. This happens half an hour before it is time for you to wake. The reason for this is that waking in a room full of light tells that brain that it is time to stop producing melatonin, the hormone which makes us sleepy. Melatonin is thought to be one of the major causes for winter blues.

Exercise: Gyming or swimming can help relieve mild depression and the effects of the winter blues. It is suggested that half an hour of aerobic exercises about three times a week helps a lot in producing a goof feel hormone. This, in turn, helps in relieving mild depression. Exercising with a friend is a good way to stay motivated.

Eat chocolate: Including a chocolate in your daily diet during the winter months is a great way to keep away the winter blues. In this season, most people and especially those that suffer winter blues, often crave for trytophan, a natural amino acid. This is found in chocolate and certain other foods.  Trytophan is associated with the manufacture of serotonin, the feel-good hormone that the body produces on exposure to sunshine. But remember, trytophan is mostly found in expensive chocolates, and not the cheap ones. Research says that the more expensive the chocolate, the higher the cocoa bean content. This means lesser sugar content, which is also healthier.

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