Short, dark days and long, cold nights. The winter months–with its frigid temperatures along with daylight-saving time–can certainly take its toll on a lot of adults. Although winter can be magicial, wonderful time of the year, it can also cause feelings of sadness for many.
While feeling sad because of the lack of sunshine and gloomy weather is considered normal, if you start feeling depressed each and every day of the winter months, you may have Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). But don’t worry, SAD can be managed, and helpful treatment is available. Keep reading to understand more about SAD and learn some useful tips for combatting SAD:
SAD is also commonly known as seasonal depression or the winter blues. If you think you are struggling with SAD, you’re not alone. It’s a common condition that affects more than 3 million people in the United States per year.
According to Mayo Clinic, SAD is a type of depression that’s related to changes in seasons–it begins and ends at about the same times each year. Most commonly, symptoms will start in the fall and continue into winter months. However, SAD can also cause depression in the early spring or summer months as well.
Causes:
The main cause for SAD is a chemical imbalance of serotonin and melatonin levels along with changes in your circadian rhythm.
Symptoms:
SAD has multiple symptoms that mimic symptoms of depression. These symptoms usually continue to grow in severity as the winter months progress. You might have SAD if you are experiencing some of these common symptoms:
SAD doesn’t have to shape your life and control your mood throughout the winter months. Try out some of these tips to help beat the winter blues:
If you are living a healthy lifestyle and following advice to cope with SAD but are still feeling depressed, or have thoughts of self-harm, you need to see a professional.
A physician can prescribe medications if that is the best treatment option for you. Anti-depressants can help if you are deeply struggling with depression. However, if you prefer not to take medications, there are other effective treatments available:
Winter should be the most wonderful time of the year for everyone, so don’t accept living with SAD! It can be treated, and there are many ways to cope with the condition.
How do you fight the feeling of the winter blues? Comment any advice or experiences about SAD below.
Image by: Teksomolika- Freepik