Try to increase your level of exercise. A Norwegian study has shown that increasing oxygen absorption through exercise decreases depression. Exercise has many positive effects. It helps your cardiovascular system, aids in osteoporosis management, aids in weight management and increases your mental outlook. Start slow and make sure that you exercise within your physical means. Try to include at least a short activity time every day. If you have any questions or want some advise, just ask your doctor.

The second thing you can do is to set aside a time every day to do something you enjoy. This isn't a time to do something you have to do, but instead, a time for enjoyment. Basically, set aside a playtime for yourself. This can be as short as fifteen minutes, but it is your time.

Do something that involves the right side of your brain. The left brain is logical, rational and systematic. The right side of the brain is creative, musical and emotional. To activate this side of the brain, try creating or doing something with music.

Next, examine your eating habits. Have you fallen into a trap of eating more junk food, not preparing good nutritious meals, increasing bad fats in your diet or skipping breakfast? Cut down on your sugars, bad fats, junk foods and empty calories. Increase your fruits, vegetables and good protein sources. Don't fall into the easy trap of increasing alcohol intake in the winter. This is a double-edged sword, with both sides being bad for you. It is not only a depressant, but it also leaches the nutritents from your system that your body needs to keep going in a positive manner.

Examine your life for the negative things that pull you down. For example, if there isn't a lot of uplifting news, don't watch the news before you go to bed. Instead, watch something that will make you laugh. This will cause a release of chemicals in your brain that will help you sleep well and wake up the next morning in a better mood.

"The winter months bring
out more depression than any
other season of the year."

If you are one of the 25% of the population that is severely affected by the winter months, consider using full spectrum lights around you. This simple change can cause dramatic changes in your brain chemistry. The lack of full spectrum light, like the sun, adversely effects the production of hormones in the brain. This causes a condition known as SAD, seasonal affected disorder. A government study showed that 90% of SAD cases had manic depressive symptoms. Light therapy was 80% effective in reversing these symptoms. SAD makes you a sad person. Full spectrum lights replace the portions of the light that are not produced by normallight bulbs or fluorescent lights. If you have this condition, you will slowly become more depressed from October to January, and then slowly improve until you are your old self again around mid-April.

Other symptoms relate to the clock type mechanism that goes on in your brain. You have a daily clock, a monthly clock, a yearly clock and a lifetime clock. Sometimes, these clocks get out of synch. There are some simple tests we do in the office that help to determine whether you are in need of care to reset these clocks. This care involves structural, chemical and environmental changes.

Finally, think positive. Spring is just around the corner and the sun will be shining soon.