The holiday season can be a time for reflection, resolutions and renewal, but for some Missourians, it’s just another blah, boring winter day to hole up inside. It could be a sign of Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD.
Christie Harris, wellness education specialist at Iowa-based Gundersen Health System, said in many cases it’s a relatively easy cure.
“Try to get some natural sunlight, that’s the best way that we can do it, and if you can’t do that, you can definitely talk to your healthcare provider, because there are some alternatives that we can do,” she said. “There’s some vitamins that we can take to help to increase our energy levels, and there’s also light therapy that can be done as well for folks.”
Studies find between 35- and 50-million Americans suffer from SAD, and those who were susceptible to it one winter are likely to see it return. Harris said if you think you may have SAD, there are several questions to ask yourself.
“Are you noticing a change in your energy levels? Are you noticing that you’re starting to withdraw a little bit more than maybe what you were doing before, so, socially isolating yourself? Maybe your food consumption has changed. We crave certain foods during the winters. They tend to be kind of some of those carb-heavy type foods,” Harris said.
In many cases, someone suffering from SAD will feel depressed, low on energy, have no interest in anything, with a worst-case scenario being thoughts of death or suicide.
“Winter can be long, and there’s no reason why we need to feel that way,” Harris said. “For some people, it could be they just feel a little gloomy from time to time, and that might be something that they can press through. For other people, it can be a lot more severe than that.”
Harris said some people can overcome SAD by engaging in physical activity which can boost their mood and energy levels, while others may benefit from practices like yoga, meditation, tai chi, and deep breathing exercises.
Another indicator could be difficulty concentrating, or a change in sleeping patterns, where you’re tired all the time and find it hard to get out of bed in the morning. Or you could feel just the opposite, having a difficult time falling or staying asleep. If any of the symptoms sound familiar, Harris recommends seeking professional help.
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