Area Expert Says Winter Doldrums Comes in Degrees

   
by KYW's Lynne Adkins

The days are getting shorter, there's less daylight, and many of us are getting grumpier. But you can take action to improve your mood.

We all know someone who gets blue this time of year. And for a small percentage of those people, there's a medical term: seasonal affective disorder ("SAD"). 
 
But Dr. David Baron (right), chairman of psychiatry at Temple University's school of medicine, says that for most of us it's just the winter doldrums:
 
"Is it just that I'm not looking forward to the winter, to the cold weather, to heating bills -- my gosh, I'm going to have to pay half my check this winter paying heating bills -- the negative connotations? Versus those individuals who really get depressed, feeling hopeless, helpless, having problems with sleep, appetite, energy levels."

For them -- people with seasonal affective disorder -- sitting in front of a bright light may help. 

If you're just grumpy, Baron advises, do something you enjoy: see a movie, read a book, take a walk. 

(Photo: Temple Univ.)