Seasonal Affective Disorder, or Cabin Fever? : News : CNYcentral.com

Seasonal Affective Disorder, or Cabin Fever?

by Laura Hand

Posted: 10.01.2011 at 2:45 PM

Laura Hand

Laura Hand anchors CNY Central's Weekend Today in Central New York.

Staying active and connected will help

If gray skies get you down, there are some simple ways to keep yourself going through winter.

With this week's gray skies, our psychologist has some good advice on dealing with the winter blahs:

Dr. Rich O'Neill, from SUNY Upstate, says peope do get depressed in the dark months of winter, but bright lights, the traditional 'cure' for Seasonal Affective Disorder, are controversial because some researchers now think they work just because people think they will. O'Neill says thinking more positively about the colder months, and staying active, will also go a long ways toward fighting depression.

He suggests doing the winter prep now, including fixing gutters, and lining up plowing, so that they don't make life more frustrating come cold and snow. And, he suggests planning now on how to stay active and socially engaged though the winter because inactivity makes us anxious, irritable and dpressed. Phone and email count, because they keep you connected.