Seasonal affective disorder can be tough – but there is a way to overcome it
January is an unpopular month, the holiday festivities are over, bills are due, and while your bank account may be less stressed, the number on the scale may be higher.
FOX 2 – January is an unpopular month, the holiday festivities are over, bills are due, and while your bank account may be less stressed, the number on the scale may be higher.
Then of course there is the weather. Lots of darkness, short days, little sunshine, very cold temperatures – all of this can lead to seasonal depression.
“The weather is changing, it is dark and cloudy. There can be a lot of rain. Depending on where you live, there may also be snow. We get less sunlight,” said Kia Rai Prewitt.
People with sleep problems, depressed adults, dark sky, light therapy box.
Prewitt, a clinical psychologist in Cleveland, says symptoms of seasonal affective disorder include symptoms such as sadness, lack of energy and difficulty sleeping.
Although anyone can suffer from seasonal affective disorder, it is more common in younger adults. According to Doctor Prewitt, people with clinical depression may also be at higher risk.
Those struggling with this can find relief with light therapy, which uses a special lamp to mimic outdoor light.
And while we might feel like curling up on the couch and wrapping ourselves in a blanket, the doctor recommends moving more and socializing.
“Sometimes you have to force yourself to do something fun even if you don’t feel like it. It’s a bit like exercise,” she said. “We know exercise is good for us, but for many people the struggle is getting to the point where they can exercise.”
“But once you do it, you feel good, right? And so it may be that some things still get done, even if it requires a little more effort.”
