The NEW YORK POST
... BUT HERE'S HOW TO BEAT THE DOLDRUMS


January 24, 2006

Although there are is a wide selection of light-therapy devices available (doctor-recommended equipment can be found at the Web sites cet.org and sphereone.com), and you can always head to a shrink for a good, old-fashioned script, there are other ways to combat seasonal affective disorder. In her book "A Life in Balance," Dr. Kathleen Hall suggests the following :

Serenity

Create moments of peacefulness in your everyday life. Easier said than done, right? Try coming up with a mantra or a soothing, three-word phrase ("I am OK," "Everything is fine"), and then find a quiet place, sit down and repeat it to yourself over and over until a stressful or intensely sad moment has passed. Other ideas include deep breathing, prayer and keeping a journal.

Exercise

Even if you love the gym (yeah, right), take it outside. No matter how cold it is, try to get a few minutes of brisk walking in every day during daylight hours, to increase blood flow and exposure to sunlight.

Love

Make a point to have regular meetings with friends on a weekly basis - plans that don't include work. Sounds simple, but wait: The hard part is you can't cancel.

Food

Food can be healing, nourishing and, most of all, pleasure-inducing. In winter, Hall suggests finding foods that are rich in omega 3 and B6, such as fish, bananas and mangoes. Blueberries have been found to increase neuron reproduction, helping increase alertness.