Things that cross the mind of a member of Generation X
Hey folks, taking a day off today and sitting around with a few immediate family members. So nothing big, I just wanted to say Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you. Whether you celebrate or not I hope you get a respite today and can relax.
Take care and enjoy!
Karac
Yes, winter is coming to the west and if you have anxiety like me, the bleak weather of the winter can really make a bad mood worse. November is a transition month weather wise, at least where I live. Fall is departing quickly, and the cold grey winter is near. Most of us soldier through and do the best we can. That said there are things you can do during the doldrums of winter to improve your mood. As someone once said, “you are what you eat”, thankfully that isn’t completely true because god knows what I would have morphed into after all these years.
Berries
Be it strawberries, blueberries or raspberries, the berry family helps a great deal when it comes to fighting stress and exhaustion. The berries are believed to prevent the release of cortisol a stress hormone thereby combating stress.
Dark chocolate
You know the feeling when on your lowest days, you get this strange urge to bite into a chocolate? It is because studies have shown that chocolates especially the dark kind have a high polyphenol content. Polyphenols are a type of antioxidants that can help you get through some tough feelings. Grab a bar with the highest cocoa content.
Bananas
Did you know that the carbohydrates from natural sugars and potassium in bananas can help fuel your brain and make you feel less mentally exhausted? Bananas are rich in magnesium as well, which can help with anxiety and make you sleep well. This winter have more bananas than you usually do, especially if you feel the blues.
Berries are remarkable, if you can work them into your diet you will benefit greatly. As I discussed in this blog post Cortisol is a huge culprit in many health issues. Anything you can do to combat it is a positive.
Of course, berries are not in season in the west right now due to the weather. You’re likely going to have to pay more to get them now, still berries are not cost prohibitive but do be mindful of cost. Blueberries are always a good value and usually run cheaper then say strawberries or raspberries.
Consider adding these foods to your diet. Balance is paramount when putting things into your body. Will it help? I don’t know for sure but the three listed, in moderation are very good sources of macro nutrients and vitamins. If the secondary effect is less anxiety that’s a win win!
Thank you for coming by and supporting my blog I really appreciate it. Want to see another post like this one? Click here.
Yes, winter is coming to the west and if you have anxiety like me, the bleak weather of the winter can really make a bad mood worse. Most of us soldier through and do the best we can. That said there are things you can do during the doldrums of winter to improve your mood. As someone once said, “you are what you eat”, thankfully that isn’t true because god knows what I would have morphed into after all these years.
Berries
Be it strawberries, blueberries or raspberries, the berry family helps a great deal when it comes to fighting stress and exhaustion. The berries are believed to prevent the release of cortisol a stress hormone thereby combating stress.
Dark chocolate
You know the feeling when on your lowest days, you get this strange urge to bite into a chocolate? It is because studies have shown that chocolates especially the dark kind have a high polyphenol content. Polyphenols are a type of antioxidants that can help you get through some tough feelings. Grab a bar with the highest cocoa content.
Bananas
Did you know that the carbohydrates from natural sugars and potassium in bananas can help fuel your brain and make you feel less mentally exhausted? Bananas are rich in magnesium as well, which can help with anxiety and make you sleep well. This winter have more bananas than you usually do, especially if you feel the blues.
Berries are remarkable, if you can work them into your diet you will benefit greatly. As I discussed in this blog post Cortisol is a huge culprit in many health issues. Anything you can do to combat it is a positive.
Of course, berries are not in season in the west right now due to the weather. You’re likely going to have to pay more to get them now, still berries are not cost prohibitive but do be mindful of cost. Blueberries are always a good value and usually run cheaper then say strawberries or raspberries.
Consider adding these foods to your diet. Balance is paramount when putting things into your body. Will it help? I don’t know for sure but the three listed, in moderation are very good sources of macro nutrients and vitamins. If the secondary effect is less anxiety that’s a win win!
Thank you for coming by and supporting my blog I really appreciate it. Want to see another post like this one? Click here.
Hey folks, taking a day off today and sitting around with a few immediate family members. So nothing big, I just wanted to say Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you. Whether you celebrate or not I hope you get a respite today and can relax.
Take care and enjoy!
Karac
No not the emotion it’s self but Seasonal Affect Disorder. It’s real and you may have it and not even realize it. Feel unmotivated as cooler temperatures roll in. Is this “one of those days you just want to stay in bed”? In my part of the world days are getting shorter, the temperature is cooling, leaves are beginning to fall.
SAD is one of the things that affect me, I become very moody in deep winter but it starts right around the beginning of fall. It’s not uncommon for people to be affected negatively by the change of seasons. I found a very good article here about the condition.
From the article: “The American Psychiatric Association (APA) explains that SAD may arise from a biochemical imbalance in the brain prompted by fewer hours of daylight and less sunlight, which can shift the biological internal clock, causing disruption of our daily schedules.
Reduced levels of sunlight can also affect serotonin, a neurotransmitter that affects mood and has been linked to depression. Given sunlight’s role in the condition, where you live is one of the primary risk factors of SAD.”
I mean most of us have heard of this condition before, it’s not new. The real question is does it affect you and what do you do about it? To be blunt there really is one extremely effective thing you can do to combat Seasonal Affect Disorder. What is it? Go outside more. Not only is it going to help you with your vitamin D levels but it’s going to acclimate you to said season.
I know not a very scientific solution here but for years I found myself rationalizing the behavior of “hunkering down” in the winter and staying in. This year due to the pandemic it’s even more important to get outside. Even in the dead of winter, bundle up and go outside. We aren’t there just yet, Fall has just begun in the west but it’s hear and Winter is coming.
Don’t get caught unaware here, pay attention to your mood swings and when you find yourself slipping into SAD or depressed state it might just be Seasonal Affect Disorder.
Thank you supporting my blog, please leave a like or a comment to let me know you were here. Want to see more posts like this? Click here.
It’s winter in the west and if you have anxiety like me, the bleak weather of the winter can really make a bad mood worse. Most of us soldier through and do the best we can. That said there are things you can do during the doldrums of winter to improve your mood. As someone once said, “you are what you eat”, thankfully that isn’t true because god knows what I would have morphed into after all these years.
I found an article here that provides the 3 foods.
From the article: Berries
Be it strawberries, blueberries or raspberries, the berry family helps a great deal when it comes to fighting stress and exhaustion. The berries are believed to prevent the release of cortisol — a stress hormone — thereby combating stress.
Dark chocolate
You know the feeling when on your lowest days, you get this strange urge to bite into a chocolate? It is because studies have shown that chocolates — especially the dark kind — have a high polyphenol content. Polyphenols are a type of antioxidants that can help you get through some tough feelings. Grab a bar with the highest cocoa content.
Bananas
Did you know that the carbohydrates from natural sugars and potassium in bananas can help fuel your brain and make you feel less mentally exhausted? Bananas are rich in magnesium as well, which can help with anxiety and make you sleep well. This winter have more bananas than you usually do, especially if you feel the blues.
Berries are remarkable, if you can work them into your diet you will benefit greatly. As I discussed in this blog post Cortisol is a huge culprit in many health issues. Anything you can do to combat it is a positive.
Of course, berries are not in season in the west right now due to the weather. You’re likely going to have to pay more to get them now, still berries are not cost prohibitive but do be mindful of cost. Blueberries are always a good value and usually run cheaper then say strawberries or raspberries.
Consider adding these foods to your diet. Balance is paramount when putting things into your body. Will it help? I don’t know for sure but the three listed, in moderation are very good sources of macro nutrients and vitamins.
If the secondary effect is less anxiety that’s a win win !