It's the middle of winter, and the prospect of warm sunny days seems to be a long way off.
For some of us, it's the most depressing time of year, where daylight is limited and the weather is often miserable –this is when the winter blues set in.
So what can be done to lift our spirits?
The shorter days and longer nights can make us feel down, and that can cause us to eat more and exercise less. Some fear loneliness and isolation during the long dark months.
Those people who suffer this seasonal mood swing more seriously are described as having seasonal affective disorder –or SAD for short.
It's a type of depression with a seasonal pattern caused by a lack of light and is thought to affect the part of the brain that rules sleep, appetite, mood, and activity levels.
Although having more light is an obvious cure, antidepressants can help those with more severe depression by artificially elevating the amount of serotonin in the brain.
But this isn't suitable for everyone, and many of us can try to just alter our mindset.
It might sound easier said than done, but accepting winter and thinking positively may energize us.
It's suggested that we should use this time for rest, reflection, slowing down, stillness and renewal.
现在是隆冬时节，要想看到温暖阳光的日子似乎还很遥远。
对我们中的一些人来说，这是一年中最令人沮丧的时候，白天很有限，天气也很糟糕——这就是冬季忧郁降临的时候。
那么，我们能做些什么来振奋我们的精神呢?
白天变短，夜晚变长会让我们感到沮丧，导致我们吃得更多，锻炼得更少。有些人害怕在漫长黑暗的月份里孤独和孤立。
那些季节性情绪波动更严重的人被称为季节性情绪紊乱症(简称SAD)。
这是一种由缺乏光线引起的季节性抑郁症，被认为会影响大脑中控制睡眠、食欲、情绪和活动水平的部分。
尽管光照充足是一种明显的治疗方法，但抗抑郁药物可以通过人为地提高大脑中血清素的含量来帮助那些患有严重抑郁症的人。
但这并不适合所有人，我们中的许多人可以尝试改变自己的心态。
这听起来说起来容易做起来难，但接受冬天并积极思考可能会让我们充满活力。
有人建议我们应该利用这段时间来休息、反思、放慢脚步、平静和更新。
