Symptom management

Recognise Patterns. Realising how past, often forgotten events affect your current thinking, feeling and behaviour, will help you to understand what contributes to your symptoms and what the triggers are. You can then see how these symptoms are maintained.

Break the cycle. Challenge negative patterns and find other ways of being. We have the power to be different, to perceive things differently.

Get active. Activity is good for the mind as well as the body. It stimulates the brain and reduces negative symptoms.

Go outside. Try to spend time out-doors, especially if you suffer from SAD. Fresh air and nature have their own positive effects on mental health and well-being.

Sleep well. Sleep is enormously important for health. Take some time to unwind before bed.

Eat well. Make sure you have a balanced diet bearing in mind vitamin and mineral deficiencies impact emotional as well as physical health.

Look after yourself. Remember that you are important. Do more of the things that make you feel good. Develop an awareness of things and activities which boost your self-esteem and self-respect.

The positive effect of people. Build in time to share with friends, especially people who increase your positive energy and make you feel valued.

Stimulate your mind. Look for new things to do. What did you like to do when you were younger? Perhaps you could reactivate an earlier interest. Practice optimism