Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a very real condition that affects as many as 40 million people around the globe. It can make anyone miserable during winter months, especially those living in the northern hemisphere.
Many of us experience at least one kind of depression each year, but the winter months can trigger more severe seasonal mood swings. These episodes of “winter blues” have been linked to a disruption in circadian rhythms, which may play a role in the development of the disorder. It seems that the more severe your seasonal affective disorder (SAD) symptoms are, the more likely you are to develop a case of winter blues during winter months.
I know it can feel overwhelming, but the benefits of a healthy lifestyle (a balanced diet, a good night's sleep, and regular exercise) can make all the difference in treating or preventing seasonal affective disorder.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a form of depression caused by the shortening of days during the fall and winter seasons. SAD often leads to feelings of sadness and lethargy. Some people may feel irritable, low energy and have trouble sleeping. People may crave carbohydrates and sweets, often leading to weight gain and obesity.
The second point on this list deals with our innate desire to seek warmer weather after the winter has worn us down. It’s the time of year when we begin to notice the lack of sunlight that makes us feel sad and irritable. Our bodies need sun to thrive, and wintertime is a perfect time for our brains to become dependent on the sunshine for mental stimulation. When we feel a little down, it’s easy to reach for some kind of antidepressant medication, but you can use a different approach instead.
Researchers found that people with seasonal affective disorder tend to come out of the winter blues around Thanksgiving, which is typically the first week of November. At this point in time, it’s not too cold to go outside and exercise, but it’s still nice and light, which makes people feel better. Also, around this time of year, people usually have a lot to be thankful for, like family and friends.
People with seasonal affective disorder (SAD) suffer from winter depression, which can last for months or even years. The symptoms of SAD include feelings of being overwhelmed by sadness, low energy, decreased motivation, fatigue, decreased concentration, difficulty sleeping, weight gain or loss, and increased appetite.
So, how can people with seasonal affective disorder overcome this issue? They can take advantage of light therapy. One of the main benefits of light therapy is its ability to help your circadian rhythms adapt to the changes in sunlight. Light therapy works by allowing your circadian rhythms to become more in tune with the light and dark cycles of the day. This helps alleviate symptoms of seasonal affective disorder, or SAD.
In conclusion, the seasonal change in mood is linked to a reduction in the amount of light reaching the brain. Our brains are wired to produce melatonin, a hormone which helps us sleep. Melatonin production goes down when we are exposed to less natural light. This, in turn, leads to increased feelings of depression during the winter. So the answer is to expose ourselves to natural light in order to fight depression. If you are looking for a more complete explanation of Seasonal Affective Disorder reach out to Connex Ontario on 1-866-531-2600.
Currently rated 0.0 by 0 people