Louise Fisichella...
Louise Fisichella has studied Comparitive Religions,Yoga, nutrition and health for over 30 years
Are Yo S.A.D?
With the winter months now coming up on us, I want to take a moment to talk about S.A.D.-Seasonal Affective Disorder it is real and it is treatable. Mostly it affects the populations that live above the Mason-Dixon Line. From what I have read it lasts between the months of October and March. If you suffer from S.A.D. last year, you will suffer again this year. Basically, you feel depressive and lethargic. Because of these symptoms it may be very difficult to stay in good physical condition over these upcoming months. As always, a good diet is essential to gaining and maintaining good mental as well as physical health. And I want to say right now, that if you think you have severe depression or clinical depression, you should seek professional help. I am not here to diagnose or treat any medical/emotional condition.
What I am here for is to share with you what has worked for me. I keep a health journal. It does contain some of my other experiences, like when I climbed what mountain or saw an interesting wild animal; things of particular interest. But, it is mostly what I have experienced on a physical level. I record the routines I do, how much weight I lift or how many reps I did. Sometimes I draw pictures in the margins for quick reference to injuries, illnesses, cycles, surgeries, etc. Most importantly it is accountability to one’s self. During times when I am slacking off and not exercising my health journal calls to me. I keep it out where I have to pass by it often. I write with a special pen that I don’t use anywhere else, so as to keep it sacred. The body is the Temple of the Soul, only we are accountable for its condition. I make myself the commitment to stay in good health on a daily basis. Charting my progress keeps me seeing that process unfold and maintaining my focus.
My son and I have a help each other plan we “buddy-up” on a project. Since Ian was old enough to read I have used the chart system on him as a way to track his chores. He wanted to gain more discipline in his piano practice and I wanted to beef-up my routine by adding an extra day of abs. So, we made up a six week chart to track our progress. (Six weeks from now would be mid-December if you picked a buddy and a goal to focus on now…….?) We post it on the wall to see anytime we walk by. Here again, we are reconfirming our commitment to the goals we have set. When we are depressed, suffering from “the blues”, or have a history of S.A.D. it is even more important for us to have obtainable, short-term goals. When we obtain our goals it contributes to our sense of accomplishment, self-nurturing, and supports our esteem which lifts our spirit. When I buddy-up, I am grateful to be of service and grateful to benefit from the Spiritual experience!
The symptoms of S.A.D. can also be managed with supplementation. We already know that drinking your daily vitamin is probably the best delivery system, so we have the basics covered. Generally speaking, most people do not understand the importance of calcium. Not only in the body, but the role it plays in emotional stability. We have talked about the importance of the delivery system in regard to absorption of calcium and most of you know I recommend “Isotonix” calcium. Anyone with depressive symptoms will benefit from the B vitamins as a whole, and especially B12. I use the “sub-lingual” liquid form. As to how much any one person should be taking on a daily basis is dependent on many different factors and should be discussed with your own doctor particularly if you have a medical condition. There is some proof that Vitamin D is linked to mood, but the jury is still out. Supplementing liquid Melatonin has been proven to help as well. But, what we can decrease is sugar and flour. Both of these substances create an altered state of mind and physiology. From this we must REBOUND. We cannot remain emotionally stable if we are going up and down like a yo-yo on sugar and flour. It is that simple. Munch on celery, peppers, cucumbers, broccoli, anything but sugar or flour products. I cannot stress enough the magical healing power of water. If you feel down, angry, tired, and sometimes hungry, drink a glass of water before you do anything else. Very often these symptoms disappear after just one glass of water. I don’t know how this works, but it does. I have proven it on myself. Sometimes I forget what I was upset about because it took me longer to drink the water than I stayed upset and the mood passed. Sometimes I can feel the water cleansing me of the sensation of being tired or hungry and sometime I just cannot explain what happens. So, drink water.
Some research suggests that people with S.A.D. use “full-spectrum” lights. I cannot testify to the effectiveness of the treatment, but there are significant reports of success. The light that is used for the treatment of S.A.D. is different from the lights in the tanning bed. But, you can buy the bulbs at Lowes or Home Depot and put them in your house or next to the place where you read or watch TV. The rule of thumb is at least 20 minutes per day at minimum. I do not know if there is a maximum, but follow the manufacturer’s recommendations or call your doctor office.
I am also a fan of pictures. I get pictures of the mountains I want to climb next Summer and put them on the wall to keep me focused on why I keep myself in condition and why it is more important during the Winter. I have had to start from scratch in the Spring to prepare for the upcoming season and missed the really big climbs I could have otherwise made. I like to hit the ground running in the Spring, not playing catch-up. If you want to lose a few pounds, firm up, or be able to touch your toes, find a picture to remind you and help you stay focused. Put it someplace you will notice it daily and contribute to that image or goal on a daily basis.
We have approximately 150 days to make the most of our Winter. Much of this time will be spent with our families, plenty of celebrating goes on during the holiday season, a lot of eating and drinking happens. Let’s do all we can this year to make this a healthy holiday. If someone you know seems sad and down ask them how they are, gently give some of the suggestions you have read here, or offer your support. Taking a walk is almost always going to pick up someone’s spirit. Maybe the next time they feel down they will walk instead of eat, or sit in front of the TV. Walking gives instant gratification without regret! You have automatically accomplished something, you walked and now you are healthier. If you feel sad there are actions you can take to ease the uncomfortable feelings you are experiencing. I have listed a few, but the list is long. All we need to do is make sure the actions we take are the healthy ones! Enjoy your Winter!
If you have more questions, just drop me a line
Louise@Higher-Ground.com
As always you can e-mail me and I will help guide you towards more learning and exploration of alternatives to traditional Western eating!
Contact Louise at Go Figure Body Works
E-mail: Louise Fisichella
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