MD Pediatric Associates
  • New Patients
    • New Patients
      • Sub Links
        • Introduction
        • Preparing For Your Visit
        • Patient Centered Medical Home
        • FAQs
        • Make an Appointment
        • More Information
  • Healthcare
    • Healthcare
      • Developmental Stages
        • Expecting Parents
        • Newborns
        • Toddlers
        • School Age Children
        • Teens
      • Special Care
        • Lactation
        • Behavioral Health
        • Sports Medicine
        • ADHD
        • Asthma
        • Special Needs
  • Resources
    • Patient Resources
      • Resources
        • Immunization Schedule
        • Forms
        • Services
        • Blog
        • FAQs
      • Patient Resources
        • CHADIS
        • Insurance Plans
        • Outside Resources
  • CUB Advantage™
    • CUB Advantage™
      • Sub links
        • Introduction
        • Benefits
        • Pricing
        • FAQs
        • More Information
  • Team
    • Coppell TeamFlower Mound Team
      • Mark Holt
        Mark Holt, MD
        Darla Kincaid
        Darla Kincaid, MD
        Lisa Shumate
        Lisa Shumate, MD
        Vani Venkatachalam
        Vani Venkatachalam, MD
        Steffi Mendoza
        Steffi Mendoza, MD
        Becca McCurdy
        Becca McCurdy, RN, CPNP
      • Ralph Fitzgerald
        Ralph Fitzgerald, MD
        Michelle Forbes
        Michelle Forbes, MD
        Carla Upperman-Xu
        Carla Upperman-Xu, MD
        Sarah Null
        Sarah Null, PA-C
        Kim Mowery
        Kim Mowery, RN, CPNP
  • About
    • About MDPA
      • Our Practice
        • Our Approach
        • Accreditations
        • In The Community
        • Locations
        • Contact
      • Admin & Policies
        • Billing Policy
        • Immunization Policy
        • Privacy Policy
        • Hospital Affiliations
        • Careers
  • Menu
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
972.420.1475
Locations
Appointment
Patient Portal
Make Payment

Beating the Winter Blues

by Dr. Kincaid on December 2, 2020
Behavioral Health

Winter can be a difficult season for many of us.

The days are short.  The nights are long. Colds are in full swing and work seems to pile up for people of all ages. When you include the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic and changing holiday plans and traditions, this year’s winter season can feel overwhelming.

While there are many people who deal with seasonal depression, even those of us who usually don’t struggle with the ‘winter blues’ need to take extra precautions this year to keep both mentally and physically healthy.

Some ways the winter blues can show itself is through sleeping difficulties, lethargy, overeating, irritability, feeling unsociable and just feeling down. If you or your child are experiencing these, pay attention to these 5 practical steps to help you battle those winter blues.

  1. Let the Sunlight In

    Sunshine is more important than you might think! Just taking the time to go outside during the day, for recess, a lunch break, or an early evening walk before it gets dark can change you or your child’s mood drastically. Even just opening up the blinds can help your family get more exposure to natural light and help your brain function more healthily. 

  2.  Stay Active

    Believe it or not, exercise doesn’t just help strengthen your body physically, it helps you mentally as well. Exercise has been shown to help fight depression, anxiety, stress and many other mental illnesses. 

  3. Celebrate the Little Things

    This year has had a lot of disappointments for many people. COVID has cancelled family vacations, changed the way our kids go to school, changed the way we interact with others and is now threatening our holiday plans.

    In the midst of all of the disappointment, find a way to celebrate the little things. Plan a weekend movie night with the family. Make decorating for the holidays a big family event. Have family adventure days where you go for a hike or explore a new park.

    Although this year’s celebrations might not be the same as years before, find ways to make them special and unique to you and your family. 

  4. Eat Healthy

    In the same way that physical exercise helps your physical and mental health, what you eat also impacts more than just your physical body. Eating a healthy diet that is high in vegetables, fruit, and whole grains will help your overall mental wellbeing. 

  5. Reach Out

    If you find that you or your child are really struggling be sure to reach out to friends, family members, counselors, and/or health providers. You are not alone. There are people who are here for you and ready to help you in whatever way they can.

    If you feel like your child is struggling with depression or any other mental health disorder, you can call us to make an appointment with one of our providers who provide behavioral health visits or with our psychiatrist, Dr. Steffi Mendoza. 

We are here to help you keep your winter from being blue! 

For more information on these topics check out these links:

https://www.apa.org/monitor/2011/12/exercise

Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on Google+
  • Share on Pinterest
  • Share on Linkedin
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Share on Vk
  • Share on Reddit
  • Share by Mail
"It’s really a blessing when you have doctors that exemplify what you visualize a good doctor to be. I can only rave about the care, concern and interest exhibited by all of the professional staff at MD Pediatric Associates."
PC
Paul C.

Are You New Here?

Welcome to MDPA, your Patient-Centered Medical Home. We look forward to serving your family!

New Patients

CUB Advantage™ is our Direct Primary Care model of health care emphasizing personalized care.

Learn More

Caring at every stage

Call us at 972.420.1475
Patient Portal
Locations
New Appointment
Symptom Checker
Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2014 MD Pediatric Associates. MD Pedi, MD Pediatric Associates and the bear logo are trademarks of MD Pediatric Associates. All Rights reserved. Website designed and built by Hoyt Creative LLC

Latest Posts

ADHD and Virtual Visits: A Lego Fit
When can your child receive the COVID-19 vaccine?
Beating the Winter Blues
Is it COVID or the Flu?
Keeping You Safe during COVID-19
Summer and Social Distancing
Is it COVID or the Flu? When can your child receive the COVID-19 vaccine?
Scroll to top
Call Now ButtonCall 972-420-1475