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AskAshley
Can You Prevent Seasonal Depression? By Ashley Alt
With a little light therapy and the right attitude, the winter blues can be averted.
According to the Weather Channel, 30% of adults will experience symptoms of SAD this year.
They say summer is a state of mind. Funny how “they” only talk about summer being a state of mind in...the summer. Clearly, adopting a summer mindset is easy when you’re on the beach with your polka dot bikini sipping on a mai tai.
Due to my own experience of postpartum depression and good old fashioned mood swings, I have one hell of a time adjusting to the winter months, for which I have failed to adequately prepare for the sun setting before I make dinner. But this year, I am making a change, baby! I’m going to do everything I can to prevent bad
But what about when the skies have been grey for five consecutive days, the mornings and evenings growing darker by the minute, inadvertently affecting our ability to focus, and bringing that carefree summer energy from a “Let’s throw a pool party!” to a “Let’s crawl in bed at 2 pm.”Talk about a buzz kill.
moods, lack of focus, and low energy. And with the right attitude and gobs of willpower, I’m confident you can do the same.
Enter SAD, aka Seasonal Affective Disorder, which occurs in climates where there is less sunlight at certain times of the year. Symptoms of SAD include fatigue, depression, hopelessness, and social withdrawal.
So how do you know if you actually have seasonal depression, or if you’re just feeling down in the dumps from the weather change? While feeling a mood shift this time of year is completely normal, expected even, you should always consult with your doctor if you’re feeling off — feeling sad and fatigued most of the day, every day, for example, as well as losing interest in hobbies and feeling hopeless, might be cause for concern.
