Princeton's Ask the Doctor November-December 2019

...continued from page 58 eating choices, exercise to help beat back stress, and surround yourself with a healthy environment by enjoying nature’s seasonal smells, sights, and sounds. 11. Limit alcohol – Alcohol can affect your mood, making you more emotional and decreasing your inhibitions. If you do drink, take the time to savor that glass of wine, cocktail, or beer. 12. Be supportive to your staff – If you’re a supervisor at work, understand that some of your employees may be going through a rough time during the holidays. Be understanding and reserve your criticism. Everyone can use an extra dose of empathy this year. Could It Be Seasonal Affective Disorder? While the holidays can be stressful on their own, shorter days and less light can wreak havoc on your mental state. In the summer, the sun’s rays push your body to produce dopamine, a chemical that makes you feel positive. Winter’s shorter days means you’re secreting less dopamine and more melatonin, the nighttime chemical that signals to your body that it’s time to go to sleep. The result is that you’re probably feeling fatigued earlier in the day and have less energy. Known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD), this yearly sluggish slump can contribute to feelings of anxiety and stress, and for those who already were depressed, it can increase those feelings. In fact, if you are on an antidepressant, your doctor may need to adjust your dosage to account for your body’s lack of dopamine during the darker seasons. When you are pleasant to others, it’s will be reflected back to you. Equally, when you project anger toward others, this will be mirrored back to you, which may cause anxiety and depression. So, this holiday season, don’t let family drama stress you out. Remember the reason for the season and enjoy the time that you have together. Dr. Moustafa Shafey is a board-certified psychiatrist and forensic examiner. He served as chief of the medical and dental staff and director of the Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) department at CentraState Medical Center. Dr. Shafey can be reached by calling 866-CENTRA7.

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