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Do You Suffer from Seasonal depression, symptoms, treatments

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), the short duration depression that can ruin a holiday season.

As a person that suffers from depression and anxiety year round, I often find myself with a little extra struggle during the winter months. During these months I often feel tired, lethargic, and have a lack of motivation to do anything productive. I often blame it on the short days, and it being dark what seems like all the time. In short, it takes what little bit of energy I have to do anything extra.

Does this sound like you? Do you feel like this during the winter months? Maybe, you do good in the winter but when summer comes you get in a “slump”.

If so, you may be suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

Don’t worry, you aren’t alone. According to the Cleveland Clinic,

“Approximately half a million people in the United States suffer from winter SAD, while 10 to 20% may suffer from a more mild form of winter blues. Three-quarters of the sufferers are women, and the depression usually starts in early adulthood. SAD also can occur in children and adolescents. Older adults are less likely to experience SAD.” They further state “this illness is more commonly seen in people who live in cloudy regions or at high latitudes (locations farther north or south of the equator).”

There is a variety of symptoms, click here to see a few: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9293-seasonal-depression

If you show signs don’t worry, just simply seek help.

According to John Hopkins Medicine, there are multiple ways to help you during these times. Such treatments include:

Exposure to sunlight. Spending time outside or near a window can help relieve symptoms.

Light therapy. If increasing sunlight is not possible, exposure to a special light for a specific amount of time each day may help. To learn more about light therapy, check out this Mayo Clinic article.

Psychotherapy. Cognitive-behavioral or interpersonal therapy helps change the distorted views you may have of yourself and the environment around you. It can help you improve interpersonal relationship skills, and identifying things that cause you stress as well as how to manage them.

Antidepressants. These prescription medicines can help correct the chemical imbalance that may lead to SAD.

For my depression I use therapy and antidepressants. However, I also have a light which I find useful to use in the mornings for 10-15 minutes which provides me energy…more energy than coffee. I have also used in the afternoons for very short periods (like 5 min or less) as I don’t want to much energy into the evening. This light works so good my borrowed it to take it to work and use it there.  Also, I add vitamin D to my regiment to help with the deficiency that occurs with lack of natural sunlight.

Look if you are feeling bad during this time of year it is okay. What is not okay is to suffer in silence, feel down for 3 months, or not talk to your doctor.

Also, make sure to check out my blog on slowing down the morning rat race and taking time for yourself as it may help set your thoughts and intentions for the day. You can view it here.

In your corner fighting this by your side,

Ryan