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While it's uncertain exactly why daylight may improve symptoms, this may still be an easy and effective thing that people can do to improve their mood each day. The participants who went for a daily walk showed significant improvements in all depressive symptoms, compared to those exposed to artificial light. The researchers of the study had participants either go for a daily one-hour outdoor walk, or use a low-dose artificial light box for 30 minutes per day for a period of one week. According to one study, getting more natural light during the day may help improve symptoms.

Going outside and getting some natural daylight is one thing people experiencing SAD can do for themselves.

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Light therapy is not usually available on the NHS, so if you do want to try it be sure to only choose a product that is medically approved for the treatment of SAD вЂ“ and follow instructions for use or consult your GP.ДЄside from seeking professional help, there are a couple of other things that people can do to help them cope with SAD during their day.

But one study has shown that light therapy can be an effective way of managing SAD symptoms when used in combination with antidepressants. Given it's still an emerging therapy, research regarding its effectiveness as a standalone treatment for SAD remains inconsistent. Light therapy is also currently being investigated as a treatment for SAD. Research also indicates that certain antidepressants (specifically SSRIs) may be particularly effective in treating symptoms of SAD.

In one study, researchers showed that cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) was associated with significantly lower depression when followed up one year later when compared to light therapy (another treatment sometimes used for SAD, which involves sitting in front of, or below, a box which emits a very bright light, for around 20-30 minutes or more daily).ДЄ key part of CBT is supporting patients in a technique called behavioural activation, which aims to improve mood by encouraging people to structure their day and engage in meaningful, pleasurable activities вЂ“ a hobby, for example. Research shows that cognitive behavioural therapy (which focuses on challenging our distressing thoughts and changing our behaviour) is an effective treatment for SAD. But this doesn't mean that there aren't many things people can do during the winter months to help them cope with their symptoms.ДЇor people with SAD, the main recommended treatments include psychological interventions (such as talking therapies) or taking medication (such as an antidepressant). Some people notice that their symptoms start to improve when the seasons begin to change and spring approaches. For example, some research has indicated that women may be more likely to experience SAD вЂ“ though, due to a lack of specific research, it's uncertain whether these gender differences really exist and if so, why. Of course, there may be other factors at play too. Some researchers theorise it could also be due to having a disrupted circadian rhythm вЂ“ the natural, internal process that regulates our sleep-wake cycle. Some research suggests it could be due to a malfunctioning hypothalamus (the area of the brain that regulates biological processes such as mood, sleep and appetite) or producing too much melatonin (a hormone which controls our sleep-wake cycle, which is produced by the brain's pineal gland). Researchers aren't yet clear on what causes SAD, but it's likely to be complex and multifaceted. * Change in sleep (typically too much sleep),

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