What is Seasonal Affective Disorder?
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a mood disorder that returns at the same time each year. Ladies, SAD is real, and even though it is more prevalent in climates that turn cold and dark in the fall and winter, it can affect anyone anywhere, even in warm climates.
SAD is less about the temperature outside and more linked to there being less sunlight throughout the day. Parts of the world where the days are shorter and the dark nights are longer can cause the people who live there to be highly susceptible to SAD. For some, SAD can cause depression to the point that it affects their daily lives. In cases where SAD is this severe, a person would need to reach out to their doctor to determine if they need medication or to see a mental health professional.
Symptoms of SAD include:
Feeling sad or blue.
Lack of motivation.
Tendency to procrastinate.
More tearful or irritable.
Increase or decrease in appetite and sleep.
Tendency to withdraw from loved ones.
The good news is for most people the symptoms of SAD are manageable and can be addressed by being mindful of quality self-care choices. Here are a few self-care ideas to ward of the effects of SAD:
Make a concerted effort to take good care of yourself. Eat well, get some exercise, and make sure you’re getting enough sleep at night.
Get outside into the morning sunlight for ten minutes at least three times a week. The morning sun is brightest and triggers out bodies to release healthy hormones that combat the effects of SAD.
Reach out to your support system. Let them know how you are feeling and that you need help over this hump.
Keep to your regular schedule of life activities. Don’t give into the desire to stop moving and crawl into bed or spend the day binge watching Netflix. Keep moving.
Make social plans. Scheduling time to get out of your house and interact with others will boost your mood twice: once by looking forward to the event, and then again while you’re out.
These months when the nights are longer and the days are shorter can be tough for many of us. But by keeping up with your self-care and being aware of your emotional and mental state, you’ll feel better each day until spring is here again.
