Michael C. Miller, M.D., Harvard Medical School's Comments
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Jan 13, 2009 | rating: 10 | comments: 303
Well, it looks like 9:00 PM has arrived, so I'll sign off now. Thanks to everyone for participating in this chat -- I enjoyed reading everyone's comments.

Here's to longer days and lighter moods!
Jan 13, 2009 | rating: 10 | comments: 303
Pets are great too. The warmth and friendship helps. And if a dog forces you out of the house for a walk, so much the better!
Jan 13, 2009 | rating: 10 | comments: 303
Let's talk about the 24-hour clock. Most people actually have a biological clock that is longer than 24 hours. That's where sunlight comes in -- each morning when the sun comes up, the light resets the biological clock -- it's a mechanism that allows us to stay in sync with the sun.

As the days grow shorter, the clock gets reset later and later in the morning -- and there is some evidence that it is this change that puts people at risk for low mood.

So -- when doctors recommend light therapy -- they usually recommend you do the light session early in the morning. This resets your clock to a rhythm that is more like the summer rhythm.
Jan 13, 2009 | rating: 10 | comments: 303
The end of year layoffs -- that is a big problem right now. The stress of a bad economy has had a bigger impact on mood than winter has this year.
Jan 13, 2009 | rating: 10 | comments: 303
Sometimes it's hard to tell the difference between boredom and the blues. One of the hallmark symptoms of depression is the loss of interest in anything pleasurable -- and I think another word for that is "boredom!"
Jan 13, 2009 | rating: 10 | comments: 303
The point people are making about oversleeping is very important. In many forms of depresion, people lose sleep, lose appetite, lose weight.

But in winter depression, people tend to have the opposite problem -- they sleep more and they eat more.
Jan 13, 2009 | rating: 10 | comments: 303
I wonder if work stress increases in mid-winter, too, for some people. The December holiday season, for all its ups and downs, are a distraction. Then it's many months before summer when work slows down for many people. By mid-February, it can feel like it's going to be a long, long time before a break.
Jan 13, 2009 | rating: 10 | comments: 303
Sleep is very, very important. Sleep deprivation can make people very irritable.
Jan 13, 2009 | rating: 10 | comments: 303
Nancy -- yes, the news has been difficult -- but let's hope that things will change for the better.

And Michelle -- I agree completely with what you wrote above -- there are many, many pieces to the puzzle!!
Jan 13, 2009 | rating: 10 | comments: 303
Nancy asked about health and depression -- she is absolutely right. It turns out what is good for your general health is good for your mood.

One of my colleagues is very involved in teaching about heart health -- cardiovascular health -- and what's very interesting is that usually what's good for your heart is also good for your brain -- whether it's a healthy diet or an active lifestyle.
Jan 13, 2009 | rating: 10 | comments: 303
Good friends, good food, and laughter -- that sure is a good way to pass the time, too.

One of the good things about the online community -- as someone mentioned earlier -- is that it is a way to connect with other people. Winter can be a more isolating time and the internet does seem to help.

But if you can arrange to get together with friends for some common activity, I'm all for it.
Jan 13, 2009 | rating: 10 | comments: 303
Yes -- I play the piano and guitar -- and it is a great thing to do when it's cold outside. But many people get a lot of pleasure from listening to music too. There are some great DVDs now that teach about the history of music -- classical, jazz, rock and roll -- whatever you're interested in. I have good friends who take the winter to learn about a subject -- it's a great way to keep your mind engaged.
Jan 13, 2009 | rating: 10 | comments: 303
Although I agree that it is good to drink plenty of water -- it's healthy for a lot of reasons -- it probably is not going to give too many people relief from depression per se.
Jan 13, 2009 | rating: 10 | comments: 303
I'm glad someone mentioned the holidays -- many people find them stressful.
Jan 13, 2009 | rating: 10 | comments: 303
Jennifer -- yes -- if there is a lack of motivation and a lack of any pleasure, then it is worth trying one of the depression treatments. There are many antidepressants that work well and many people I know take them without too much trouble with side effects.

But psychotherapy works well too. And about half of people who try it say that a light box is helpful for winter depression.
Jan 13, 2009 | rating: 10 | comments: 303
I did come across a "do-it-yourself" light box on the internet in the last week. For those who have a limited budget and are interested in a project -- it may be worth searching for it.
Jan 13, 2009 | rating: 10 | comments: 303
Staying engaged in things that interest you -- that is a very important part of life in the winter. The problem is that if you're feeling depressed it is very hard to get motivated and some people find it hard to get interested in anything. This can be a very painful part of depression, because if you can't find something to be interested in, life can lose its meaning.
Jan 13, 2009 | rating: 10 | comments: 303
Michelle is right -- even in warmer parts of the country, the days are shorter in the winter and the risk of "winter blues" goes up.
Jan 13, 2009 | rating: 10 | comments: 303
Sounds like Esther has had a good experience of light therapy -- has anyone else out there had good luck with this treatment?
Jan 13, 2009 | rating: 10 | comments: 303
It is a good idea to take a daily multivitamin. The way I read the literature, I do not think there is too much evidence to say that large doses of vitamins help depression. I'm a psychiatrist, so of course I'm going to say this: I think standard treatments for depression give you the best chance of relief -- that includes psychotherapy and medications.
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