Winter Blues To Do List

For some, especially far north of the equator winter blues are no fun.

To Do List

 

1. Check Labs for “optimal” vitamin d level in your blood*

It takes time to build vitamin d in your body with supplements (pills or liquid).

If your vitamin d is very low a doctor may prescribe a one time high dosage pill of 50,000 IU’s of vitamin d.

(Commonly 1,000-5,000 IU is taken per day)…

50,000 IU at once is quite high! …Obviously your vitamin d level is quite low if a doctor prescribes this dose at once.

-You should have vitamin d checked annually-Even if you already are taking an anti-depressant and especially if prone to vitamin d deficiency.

Read Signs of vitamin D Deficiency Here

 

2. Do not ignore symptoms of severe depression. Get a mental health evaluation when needed. (Ask your Dr to check your vitamin d in labs, too)

 

3. Check for other deficiencies such as low iron/ferritin blood levels in labs.

Ask your doctor to order a blood panel of tests around your main complaint such as low energy or fatigue.

Try taking a magnesium supplement after checking with your doctor first. Be sure to use the correct type of magnesium for you!

 

4. Daily Movement/ Exercise

You can start out with slow, easy movements such as an intro yoga class, including chair yoga if your mobility/ movement is less right now.

Yoga and walking are both good for back pain. yoga helps keep the spine supple to avoid joint pain.

Walking can help back pain by means of the swinging back and forth motion of the arms.

—Movement with others is even better for lifting our mood!

—Movement as Play time is great for the mood!

 

5. Acupuncture &/or similar healing modality

Regular appointments with your licensed acupuncturist, massage therapist or chiropractor can really help manage the winter blues.

We know acupuncture has been shown to improve mood and relax the nervous system.

 

Aleesha Kaplan, LAc is a licensed acupuncturist with a Master’s degree in acupuncture. She also holds a Bachelor’s degree from Hamline University.

She became interested in acupuncture and holistic medicine when acupuncture finally cured her of 17 years of debilitating migraine pain caused by a collision with a semi-truck in high school.

This rich experience helps her to empathize with her patients. Aleesha specializes in treating acute and chronic pain and anxiety that can go with it.