Don’t Be SAD This Winter!
It’s easy to feel blue in light of the winter months approaching, especially when we’re so very far from warm weather and sunlight as Mainers; but where is the line between feeling down in a normal and common way, to having what is known as Seasonal Affective Disorder?
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a common problem that usually arises in the winter time, although one can have an onset during any season. The symptoms of SAD are very similar to symptoms of depression, so it’s best if you monitor yourself in order to detect any abnormal changes in your behavior, thoughts, etc. If you begin to experience an increased amount of feelings of hopelessness and sadness, and interaction with others begins to feel so challenging that you’d rather opt out of it, you may be having symptoms of SAD and should take appropriate measures to treat it. Don’t use the young people’s mindset of “It won’t happen to me” either, because there are numerous risk factors that include a very broad group of people, such as being female, being between the ages of 15 and 55, and/or having the disorder run in your family.
What are some good ways to beat the glumness this winter? There are multiple ways to help increase your wellness during the frigid winter months, and according to article from Psychology Today, those can include taking supplements of Vitamin D, Omega-3 fatty acids, St. John’s Wort, certain antidepressant medications, and getting Vitamin D in its most natural form by braving the cold and getting outside. Other natural ways consist of getting a proper amount of exercise and eating a well-balanced diet which we all know is helpful no matter the season: a healthy body is a healthy mind (usually)!
One of the most common treatments for SAD is light therapy, where the individual sits in front of a special light usually while doing something else in hopes that it will help balance levels of melatonin, which your body produces regularly and is normally regulated by the sun. When levels of melatonin and serotonin are unbalanced due to constant darkness, certain therapies such as this one can help an individual immensely; however Vitamin D supplements have been shown to occasionally work better than most therapies. If you’re struggling this winter and are looking into light therapy, contact the Counseling Center at UMaine! Also, keep a lookout for the opening of the Active Minds/Touchstone Meditation Room (located in the Touchstone office in the old Peer Education room next to the ATMs in the Union): we may be getting access to a therapy light and it will be a good place to “free your mind” this winter!
Sources
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/natural-standard/201201/feeling-sad-season
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/sleepless-in-america/201210/treating-the-winter-blues