Seasonal Affective Disorder: An Overview

Hey everyone, I just wanted to take a few minutes to talk about a real problem this time of year, and that is the onset at this time of year for many people of Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, is a recurrent mental condition that results in depression due to changes in available sunlight in the winter months. This can rarely manifest during the summer months for some people, but this is a tiny percentage; it is most common in the northern hemisphere. Symptoms are very similar to clinical depression, including; depressed mood, lack of appetite, and various sleep issues, and more. It is most common in younger people, and the risk for it decreases with age.

Fighting SAD is simple, get enough sunlight, either by directly spending more time outdoors, in a sunny room, or with an artificial lightbox. It is also worth noting that increasing your vitamin D levels, the vitamin that your skin produces when sunlight hits it, through your diet can also help. Eating Shiitake or Button mushrooms and other foods rich in Vitamin D have been shown to help. Taking dietary supplements can also be helpful. Most importantly, reduce your alcohol intake. Alcohol, a depressant, can make all depression symptoms worse and lead to further complications with its other side effects that occur with prolonged abuse. Be intentional about your sleep habits; getting adequate sleep works wonders for depression symptoms. A simple natural way to get more sleep is to take a melatonin tablet an hour or so before your regular bedtime, and simply having a regular bedtime will help.

If you’re looking for more information on this subject and many more, you can find Candy Calderon, a certified Holistic Health Coach at candycalderon.com.

Just a reminder, no one here at Dream on Youth is a certified mental health professional. This is for informational purposes only. If you’re struggling, please seek help.