The Blues of Seasonal Affective Disorder & How to Deal with It

During the transition into fall and winter, a lot of people notice not feeling their best and experience a low mood without really knowing what is causing this feeling. If you are feeling blue and don’t know why, you might be experiencing Seasonal Affective Disorder. Also known as SAD, it is a form of seasonal depression that occurs usually during fall and winter. This disorder affects people on so many levels including sleeping and eating habits, how we feel, and how we run the day. The exact cause of this disorder remains unknown and unclear but some theories attribute it to the shortness of daytime and how this disrupts your circadian rhythm, your body’s 24-hour clock that regulates the sleep-wake cycle, and how we function in between.

 

Signs you are hit by Seasonal Affective Disorder

• Your sleeping pattern has changed and you sleep for longer hours.

• Morning laziness and drowsiness.

• You experience fatigue and laziness most of the time.

• You find it hard to stay focused and experience difficulty concentrating.

• Loss of interest in things you usually enjoy.

• Social withdrawal and lack of interest in engaging with people.

• Increased appetite, especially for carbs and sweets.

• Persistent low mood

• Irritability and over sensitivity.

 

How to overcome seasonal affective disorder?

• Spend more time outdoors. Get as much sunlight as possible every day as it helps boost the serotonin level as well vitamin D which also when deficient can affect how we feel. Besides taking walks in the morning, allow as much natural light as possible to your home and workplace.

• Exercise regularly. Include some exercise in your day even if for a few minutes of walking or jogging. It will reduce stress, improve sleep, and also boost serotonin, endorphins, and all the feel-good brain chemicals. Include a little exercise in your daily routine even if it is just jogging or some home workouts.

• Eat the right food. It is important to be more conscious about your food choices especially since this kind of low mood increases the cravings for sugar and carbs. Instead, opt for foods that are known to boost the mood such as dark chocolate, nuts, oatmeal, berries, coffee, as well as fatty fish.

• Seek professional help. If all lifestyle modifications and altering your daily habits do not help nor provide you with some relief, consider seeking professional help for treatment.