Have you been feeling sad lately, especially since the winter weather is upon us?
Do you usually feel sad or is this something that has cropped up since the days are getting shorter with less sunlight? What is sadness, anyway? It is an emotion that you can have, bringing with it feelings such as disappointment, disinterest, a low mood, helplessness, and hopelessness, to name just a few.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a real thing. It can happen when the seasons change and there is less sunlight during the day. People can become less active, feeling like they are cooped up in their homes. Seasonal changes can impact the way people think, feel, and act. It is as if you are a different person, a person who is negative, withdrawn, and unable to enjoy life as you did just a few months ago.
If you notice that the way that you feel begins to change and improve when spring arrives, then you may be suffering from SAD.
So, what is SAD? The type we are talking about today is known as winter-pattern SAD. Some people may experience SAD during other seasons of the year for differing reasons and not related to the amount of sunlight they get. However, this is not as common as winter-pattern SAD. Most people experience SAD in the winter months. SAD is a type of depression with a seasonal pattern having some of the following symptoms:
- Feeling depressed
- Losing interest in activities you once enjoyed
- Changes in appetite and/or weight
- Sleep changes
- Feeling sluggish or agitated
- Trouble concentrating
- Feeling hopeless or worthless
- Social withdrawal
- Anxiety
- Having thoughts about death or suicide
Many people have SAD but they do not know it, especially when living in Northern climates. People living in New England and Alaska are much more likely to develop SAD than people living in Florida. SAD happens when some of our brain chemicals do not function properly and this affects our mood. There are several treatments for SAD, such as light therapy, mental health counseling, medications, and nutritional supplements such as Vitamin D.
If you think you are experiencing SAD, your first step should be to discuss this with your health provider and get some counseling to get you through a challenging time. Taking medication and talking about what is going on in your life can help to improve your symptoms and feel supported. It can also prevent some of the more severe symptoms of SAD from occurring and feeling more able to take control of your life.
