The smell of leaves burning, the crisp chill of the morning air, hot apple cider, pumpkins and candy corn all announce the beginning of a new season. For some a new season brings hope, renewed energy and new activities.
For others, however, the change in daylight hours can bring despair, anxiety, fatigue and sadness. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that can be triggered by daylight savings time.
Research shows that this depression is related to the changing levels of hormones we experience at the change of a season. Experts also believe that the reduced sunlight can cause a dip in our serotonin levels. Serotonin is the neurotransmitter that is responsible for making us feel calm and relaxed. The dip in serotonin can cause you to feel irritable, anxious, fatigued, tearful, low energy and a craving for carbohydrates and sugar which can lead to weight gain and lethargy.
SAD usually coincides with daylight savings time and can become increasingly worse as the daylight hours get shorter. No need to be too sad though; the good news is that Seasonal Affective Disorder is very treatable!
BE AWARE:
If you feel your sparkle dimming and your energy low over an extended period of time, immediately recognize you could have depression related to the change of seasons and less daylight. Don’t wait until you can’t get out of bed, get the help you need to keep yourself feeling balanced and healthy.
BE PROACTIVE:
See your doctor, seek counseling, exercise, cut the carb loading and treat yourself with kindness, compassion and patience. Have a self-care plan in place and make sure your loved ones are aware of what you are going through.
LIGHTEN UP:
If you know you are prone to Seasonal Affective Disorder, plan to get away to the sunshine at least once during the darker months. If you can’t get away, light therapy has been found to be a helpful form of treatment. On sunny days take some time to get outside and put your face in the sunshine. You can also feel better by visiting a green house on a sunny cold day. The smell of the plants and the warmth of the sunshine can calm your spirit and increase your energy level.
GET MOVING:
We hear it all the time but it’s true! Exercise is a natural antidepressant and a great stress reliever. Take a dance class, go for a walk, do yoga, or swim, just make sure you MOVE!
Don’t overwhelm yourself by joining a gym or doing an exercise you hate; rather, start slowly and do what you enjoy. Ten minutes of walking a day is better than nothing!
The best way to move through a difficult emotional time is to begin to move physically. Exercise clears our minds and helps us shed the toxic feelings and thoughts we carry around in our spirits.
CONNECT:
If you are SAD, make sure you take time to connect to the people, places and things you love. Surround yourself with people that make you laugh and leave you feeling lighter. Stay away from people who drain your energy and leave you feeling exhausted.
Seasonal Affective Disorder can be overwhelming and leave you feeling exhausted. Check in with yourself to make sure you start this new season feeling healthy and strong.
Wishing you LIGHT in every area of your life!
Meghan Fritz is a psychotherapist practicing in State College, PA. For more information visit changeyourstoryllc.com.
