Let's learn about the weather...

We all are aware about Depression but did you know about how a season can actually affect your mood?  Each year the gloomy weather of Monsoon drags down thousands of Indians, sapping them of energy and cheer. Thousands more find themselves not only blue, but genuinely depressed. For those with Seasonal Affective Disorder, winter kicks off an annual cycle of unusually negative thoughts, heightened carb cravings, unwanted weight gain, and an overwhelming need to sleep.

As the clouds become darker and darker, and morning isn’t beginning with a bright blue sky, it seems like there the day is no light at the end of the day. No tomorrow to make you feel fresh and give you energy. This seems to be trigger.

A lack of sunlight means our brains produce less serotonin, a neurotransmitter that affects our mood. Conversely, the added hours of darkness may also contribute by cueing the production of melatonin, a sleep-related hormone.

But there's more to it than sunlight. Women are more susceptible to all types of depression. In fact, women ages 20 to 40 are twice as likely as their male counterparts to be diagnosed with SAD, likely owing to a hormonal link. But men aren't immune—especially if depression runs in their family.

If SAD symptoms and risk factors are sounding all too familiar, your first line of defense is to get out and move. Bring some workout regime at home since you can’t step out in the dirty puddles. We can also go for long drives, embracing the rains, (rain sounds classic romantic according Bollywood Wikipedia). Exercise can help, and if you really want to do a double whammy on your monsoon depression, go work out in the morning, if your schedule permits. Morning ray of sunlight will most effectively boost your mood.

Be conscious of your eating habits, too. While starches and carbs such as bhajiyas are the very foods SAD sufferers tend to crave, he says they'll only give a quick fix and may ultimately lead to weight gain—not the optimal way to curb depression. Gravitate toward proteins and low-glycemic foods, instead, i.e., food that don't send carbohydrates resulting your heart soaring.

But if you don't find relief in exercise, morning sunshine, and a healthy diet—and if you can't migrate to Hawaii until spring when symptoms typically subside it's likely time to get professional help. If it's really interfering with your ability to go to work, to have a good time with family, and be productive, then it's always worth starting off by talking to a professional.

A health professional can administer tests to ensure it's not another condition masquerading as SAD. She can also get a sense of your family's history of depression and gauge if your symptoms reoccur every season, or if you may just be having a rough couple of months.

If it is indeed SAD, there are treatments. At the end of the day, this is depression. Forms of treatment that work for depression often work for SAD. Doctors may suggest cognitive behavioral therapy to help patients recognize and curb irrationally negative thoughts, or prescribe antidepressants.

But the most popular treatment route is light therapy, which can be used either on its own or in addition to one or both of the above options. Light-therapy boxes emit artificial light to help compensate for a lack of sunlight. Small, portable boxes are often equipped with LED lights, while larger boxes are often outfitted with florescent lights. Whichever type you choose, simply sit in front of it for 30 to 45 minutes per day. No need to stare into the light, so long as it's illuminating the area around the eyes.

Light therapy is generally safe, and consumers can buy the boxes online without permission from a doctor. Light boxes are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, however, doing your homework before investing, reading the instructions, and making sure there's a return policy. I suggest that people look for devices that have been used by researchers at major universities or by Dr. Rosenthal in studies, because we all have to study the safety and effectiveness of what we use.

If buying a light box on your own seems daunting, check in with a doctor first. It never hurts to see someone who is familiar with the treatment and get guidance along the way.