Fall reds, winter blues.
Yes, it’s true, people really do change with the seasons. Sometimes, however, it is no fault of their own. As the year comes to end, so does the summertime, bringing less sunlight & thus, for many, symptoms of seasonal depression.
I’ve heard it called everything from being stuck in a “funk” to the “winter blues,” yet for millions of people each year, it’s so much more than that.
What is it?
Seasonal Depression, a.k.a. Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.) is a form of depression that’s related to seasons changing & occurs around the same time each year.
Often presenting itself in the fall & winter months, this differs from major depression in that symptoms show up only when there is a change in how much natural sunlight is available. So instead of symptoms lasting year round, they tend to go away in the spring.
In some cases, people with S.A.D. only experience symptoms during the spring & summer months. These symptoms include insomnia, weight loss, poor appetite & anxiety.
Who is effected?
More often than not, women are diagnosed with seasonal depression, and it effects younger adults more than any other age group. That being said, older adults can also experience the symptoms of seasonal depression, and therefore it’s important to know the signs.
Due to limited research on S.A.D. in African Americans, a large number of us are unaware of this condition, and therefore less likely to seek help. That’s why it’s so important to acknowledge what you’re feeling & be able to give it a name.
Once you identify what issues you’re having, you can begin to find healing.
Symptoms include:
Feeling depressed most of the day, nearly every day
Loss of interest in activities you usually enjoy
Problems sleeping
Low energy
Changes in appetite & weight
Feeling sluggish or agitated
Difficulty concentrating
Feeling worthless or guilty
Frequent thoughts of death or suicide
How to cope:
talk therapy - being able to identify negative thoughts & behaviors that may make you feel worse, can be helpful
stay connected - find someone that you trust, to confide in. (not only will you feel less alone, but you will have someone in your corner that is aware of what you’re going through).
exposure to sunlight - due to the effect of sunlight on the mind & body, it’s important to get as much as possible, as early as possible (open the blinds, go outside if you can
exercise - movement keeps the body awake and the mind alert. it can be anything from taking a walk around the house, to doing yoga. the important thing is that you push through
medication - this is a last resort, but for some, antidepressants are the only thing that can help improve symptoms of S.A.D.
* make sure that you speak with a professional about all of your options, before you take this step.
Due to COVID- 19, it may be more difficult for you to connect with others in-person, so you must try your best to connect virtually as often as needed. The inability to spend time with family during the holidays or even loss of a loved one, may exacerbate symptoms, so it’s important to have healthy coping skills in place. When the emotions come, don’t suppress them, instead, allow yourself to feel without letting them take over.
Take charge of your healing and know that you are not alone. There’s still a lot of year left, to thrive and grow.