How to avoid Winter Depression. My experience.

When I moved to Norway in 2013 I was eager to learn Norwegian and the local culture. Everything was new and exciting. It was 38C when I left Rio de Janeiro. It was -2C when I arrived in Stavanger with my husband. The weather was only one of the countless things I needed to adapt myself to.

Starting everything from scratch may be dazzling in the beginning. I describe the arrival of Spring in my novel (coming in 2023), the abundance of flowers, tastes and light in the Norwegian Summer. The pretty Fall color pallet. What I didn’t expect was a gray sky and lack of sunlight in the middle of Fall lasting all the way through the Winter. I wasn’t prepared for that. I had no idea which harmful effects the lack of sunlight could create in my body. Not to mention that Scandinavians also suffer the same effects. It’s not immigrants’ privilege.

I was on the bus, talking to my friend from Norwegian language school when I realized I hadn’t smiled in a while. I can’t remember how long, but it looked like two weeks.

My struggle to get out of bed in the morning, to get myself to school, me not smiling had a name: Seasonal Affective Disorder. It’s also called Winter Blues, or Winter Depression.

It had nothing to do with unhappiness. Winter depression is a chemical result. The cause it lack of neurotransmitters that convey the message of joy to our neurons. The four happy hormones are: serotonin, oxytocin, endorphin, dopamine. There are ways to produce them without the sunlight, for example: exercising and taking vitamin D supplement. The thing is, in many cases, the person needs more than that to trigger these hormones production.

Science studies have documented that the sunlight triggers hormone production in our bodies. These hormones are used, then lost. New ones must be produced next. Like I say in my book “How to avoid Winter Depression”: in the Summer, it feels like happiness comes for free. And in abundance.

So what happened?

I know myself very well. I realized I wasn’t being my normal version. I took action and tried to find what made me feel good. I worked on my well being in multiple ways. I went from Mindfulness to Chromotherapy.

The result?

I got myself out of Winter Blues. I gathered techniques that have built my inner strength.

Now, I am able to help you Bulletproof your inner joy!

Many of us that live in cold weather countries experience irritation, lack of motivation, sadness. If it’s your case, please take a look at my book. It’s easy to read, goes straight to the point and it’s super pleasant. Let’s take good care of you and your life quality in the Winter and year round.

Why buy my book?

• I tested all the practices myself. I’m not a specialist from the outside. I’m a survivor;
• The practices are personalized as you’ll try them and adapt to your taste, routine and personality;
• If you’re interested in investing in a longterm wellbeing;
• It’s a joyful book;
• It’s a good Christmas gift.

What are you doing today to keep your joy?

I’d love to read your comments. Feel free to ask me questions about the book or the blog.