Some people experience a dip in mood once the fall and winter season come upon them. In some cases, this dip can be mild and only needs minor tweaks here and there to subside. In other cases, it can become full-blown Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), and may require more concentrated interventions. One thing you can do if you suffer from either is to put indoor winter plants in your home and office, as they have some surprising benefits for your mental health.
Indoor winter plants don’t only provide a pleasing aesthetic. They can actually affect changes in your body. This article covers some of these benefits as well as some suggestions on the types of indoor winter plants that would be suitable for you. But they aren’t the only way to boost your mood through the chilliest season.
It’s also important to understand which type of mood changes you experience in order to know what other measures could help your mental wellbeing. The milder form of winter blues might just feel like you have less energy and less motivation during the fall and winter months. You may become less sociable and more home-bound, and although you’re not as vibrant and productive as you are during spring and summer, the difference is not big enough to merit a lot of worry.
In such cases, you might want to give yourself the permission to be homier, and even look for ways to enjoy this period of calm and quiet. You can take some inspiration from Scandinavian cultures, where the people know how to take advantage of the cold weather by incorporating “hygge” into their daily routine.
Hygge, a Danish word that can be loosely translated as “coziness,” has become a worldwide trend - because it works - and it has given people something to look forward to as the days get shorter and the weather cooler.
To create hygge for yourself, you can do things like:
Indoor winter plants provide that touch of nature inside your four walls that you might miss during the colder seasons.
Ferns make for great indoor winter plants because they can humidify the dry air that comes with winter and central heating. This is especially helpful if you have dry skin, dry eyes, and an overly dry nose. Ferns are easy to care for, only requiring indirect sunlight and water when the topsoil is dry.
Another plant that can help humidify your space is the Spider plant. Also, it only needs indirect sunlight, but water it frequently enough to ensure the soil stays moist (but not soaking wet).
For a touch of color, Laceleaf plants flower year-round, which can actually help activate dopamine production in your brain. They do need more watering and care when they are flowering, but only indirect sunlight.
The Kava Kava plant needs direct sunlight, but the great thing about it is that you can cut the leaves and brew them into a stress-and-anxiety-reducing tea. Just be sure that you get the all-clear from your doctor before trying any medicinal herbs or teas, as they can affect other medicines you might be using.
Finally, any type of kitchen herbs that survive the winter and need less sunlight would be an excellent addition to your home. They can provide different nutrients or make some of those cozy herbal teas for your Hygge evenings. Ask your local plant nursery for a selection, and start trying to maintain an indoor winter plants collection complete with herbs.
For some people, the winter blues can be more than just a dip in energy. It can become a challenging and confusing time where you really have trouble getting through the season. It’s important for you to know if this is what you have, because you will need to approach it differently.
If you have SAD, you’ll notice these symptoms starting out in fall and getting progressively worse as winter comes. Then, as soon as spring and summer arrive, bringing with them more sunny days, the symptoms begin to lift.
There are some people who experience SAD in reverse – meaning they get their symptoms during spring and summer – but that’s much less common.
It’s important to note that these symptoms are also shared by Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome (AFS), and in some cases, the two conditions can occur concomitantly. AFS is a condition that results from chronic stress, whether physical or psychological. And SAD can be one of those psychological stressors. Plus, the lack of vitamin D that comes with winter could also become a stressor on your system.
When your body is facing stress, your adrenal glands have to produce anti-stress hormones, with the main one being cortisol. But with chronic stress, the adrenals get overworked, and can eventually become exhausted. Symptoms of AFS include fatigue, weight issues, sleep disturbances, anxiety, mild depression, brain fog, low libido, PMS, infertility, hair loss, hypoglycemia, lowered immunity, and an inability to handle stress.
The adrenal glands are part of the Hormone circuit of the NeuroEndoMetabolic (NEM) Stress Response, which is your body’s global response to stress. The NEM is composed of six circuits: The Hormone, the Bioenergetics, the Neuroaffect, the Cardionomic, the Inflammation, and the Detoxification circuits.
In the case of SAD, or any type of winter blues, the Neuroaffect circuit is the most affected. This circuit is composed of the brain, the autonomic nervous system, and the microbiome. Depression is a sign of Neuroaffect dysfunction, and this dysfunction can be the result of different issues, such as low-grade inflammation that has reached the nervous system, dysbiosis of the gut’s microbiome, and neurotransmitter imbalances due to diet and lifestyle, among others.
Also, AFS caused by chronic stress can lead to dysregulation of the Neuroaffect circuit, as well as the entire NEM. That’s why it’s important to address any of these possible “side issues” that may be present rather than only focusing on SAD. Diet, stress management, sleep hygiene practices, supplements, and gentle forms of exercise can all be very helpful for AFS and NEM rebalancing.
Your environment can play a big role in your health and wellbeing, so although SAD will require a little more than indoor winter plants to improve, there are other things you can change about your home and office space that can really help.
For example, if you use commercial hygiene and cleaning products, you may want to consider swapping them out with more natural and organic products. The reason is that the chemicals in these products may prove to be inflammatory, and inflammation is one of the biggest stressors on the body. It’s also a major cause of Neuroaffect imbalance. If you don’t want to splurge on these more expensive products, you can make many of them at home with a few simple ingredients like vinegar and baking soda.
You’ll also want to cut out inflammatory foods from your diet. That includes sugar, processed carbohydrates, foods that contain additives and preservatives, fruits and vegetables sprayed with pesticides, alcohol, gluten, dairy, and any foods you know you’re sensitive or allergic to. The Adrenal Fatigue Diet is anti-inflammatory by nature, and it’s also designed to strengthen your adrenal glands, which can help a lot with any other conditions you have.
Supplements that have been shown to help with mood include vitamin D3, magnesium, and omega-3s. But if you have AFS or any other condition, you need to make sure you take supplements only after talking to your doctor, so you don’t get any paradoxical reactions.
Another very helpful care method is called phototherapy, or light therapy. It uses a device that emits a type of light that mimics sunlight, and you can buy your own light therapy box for your home and office. It may take a few days to really get used to it, and you might experience a few mild side-effects, such as eyestrain and nausea, but they dissipate within a few days. Keep one of your indoor winter plants nearby and you will get added benefits.
If none of these bring relief, or enough relief, you may also opt for some form of therapy. Just because this depression comes seasonally doesn’t mean it’s not real. You may be given medication, or you may just need some support as you make your diet and lifestyle changes.
© Copyright 2020 Michael Lam, M.D. All Rights Reserved.
Winter can bring with it a dip in energy, and for some, it can even bring on Seasonal Affective Disorder. In this article, we’ll give you some tips to make your home and office a little cozier and happier, such as adding indoor winter plants, to uplift your mood.
