Happy Blue Monday Everybody!

Ironic headline? Yes. Because today is the most depressing day of the year.

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With today being Blue Monday, it’s only suitable that we discuss being S.A.D. (Seasonal Affective Disorder). This is when we feel depressed only at a particular time of year, and in the Northern hemisphere, that would be referring to winter. It is unclear as to how the hours of light per day affect the brain’s functioning; studies have been ongoing on the effects of low vitamin D levels, low melatonin levels, or low serotonin levels – and none are conclusive. But a potential treatment has been the use of specialized light boxes or desk lights (found here) that blast you with 10,000 lux of light for 30 minutes every morning. These aren’t cheap but they may be covered by your insurance plan. Your other option would be to ask your doc about Prozac (or other SSRIs) for the winter which has been shown to be equally effective. Or book a really nice, all-inclusive beach holiday!
– The Veterinarian.