Mental Health Matters: Talk to a doctor if you think you may be suffering from SAD — seasonal affective disorder
By Medicine Hat News on November 17, 2018.
Our clocks have fallen back, the days are getting shorter and there’s snow on the ground. Welcome to winter! While this may not be your favourite season, we are generally equipped to deal with the changes that occur during this time of the year. We get our snow shovels out, dress warmly and enjoy cups of hot chocolate. On some days, we may look outside and feel a little down but we can shake it off and go about our lives coping in the darker seasonal weather. Sometimes though, the winter blues are much more than just a passing moment of feeling glum. Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is a kind of depression that appears only at certain times of the year. It usually begins in the fall when the days get shorter and lasts through the winter. SAD doesn’t only happen in the colder months though. A less common form of seasonal affective disorder affects people in the summer months and usually starts in the spring. It isn’t really clear what causes SAD, but it’s thought that winter SAD may be caused by lack of sunlight. This may not be the whole answer though, as it’s also thought to run in families: 13—17 per cent of people who develop SAD have an immediate family member with the disorder. There are things to watch out for that may indicate you have SAD. Some of the more common things that you may experience are: Having troubles with sleep, either sleeping too much or too little Feeling exhausted or incredibly tired all the time A change in appetite, eating more or less than you should be in a day Feeling sad, guilty and down on yourself for no reason Feeling hopeless Being irritable and more quick to anger than you usually are Avoiding people or activities you used to enjoy because you just aren’t interested in them anymore, or they feel like too much work Feeling tense and stressed If some of these feelings seem to happen each year, have a real impact on your life, and improve during certain seasons, talk to your doctor. Reaching out to medical professionals is important because there are many other disorders/illnesses that can have the same symptoms as SAD. Even if it is a mental health related problem that you’re experiencing, it may not even actually be SAD. It’s important to speak with a doctor about your concerns so you really know what’s going on, instead of just guessing. In addition to speaking with a doctor, there are a few things you can try to boost your mood during these dark winter days. Things like making sure you spend some time outdoors or arranging your living space to allow sunlight into your home are easy things to do that can help improve how you feel. Another reason seasonal change can affect us so much is that typically we go to work in the dark morning, spend our time indoors and then head home in the dark evening. Sometimes, taking a break to step outside is a good mood lifter. Going for a walk outside at lunch, or sitting out for a few minutes during a break can give us a little boost to get through the rest of our day. By taking care of your mental health and getting proper treatment and help, life can improve and this pending winter may not be so awful after all! Breanne Mellen is the Community Helpers Program coordinator with the Canadian Mental Health Association 17-16
