Seasonal Depression… sometimes known as Seasonal Affective Disorder. What really is it and why do people get it? What’s with the “season” causing it?
A STORY TO SHARE
Right, you’re already probably getting the hint at this moment. I had this for many years. The moment it hits November when the night’s longer in Sweden… for some reason I always end up feeling so low.
I could even remember a time that it went worse when I was in Minneapolis – and it was very tough!
And while I’m fully aware that there’s this controversial “Seasonal Depression” existing, I was a bit in denial that I’m one of the people who’s experiencing it.
Anyhoo, I first would like to hop on its signs, so you won’t be like me who was blindsided at that time – thinking that it’s just all coincidence or just all in my mind.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF SEASONAL DEPRESSION
How do you know if you have this so-called seasonal depression? What are the signs and how to spot them?!
First, know that for the diagnosis… You need to have at least two or more of these symptoms, depending on which level of depression you are in:
- Low self-esteem;
- Loss of joy or interest in doing things (and no you’re not supposed to have manic episodes, that could be different);
- Loss of energy;
- Cognitive effects such as concentration problems;
- Reduced level of alertness which results in slower response;
- Feeling of being agitated;
- Sleep and appetite disorder (eating an awful lot or very little);
- Very visible weight gain or weight loss; &
- Hallucinations, if you have continuous severe depression.
THEY ARE WORSE IN THE MORNING
These signs and symptoms of seasonal depression are usually worse in the morning. You’ll have a hard time getting up from bed, you’ll have morning anxiety, and you’ll have too many thoughts simultaneously!
HOW DO WE AVOID GETTING SEASONAL DEPRESSION?
While the cause is usually unknown, but mostly related to the hormone changes caused by the season change as well (hence, most of the time getting called “winter blues”), this still can be prevented by doing the usual things one would do to avoid falling into a regular depression.
Things such as maintaining a healthy routine and lifestyle, engaging consistently in physical activities, finding the right people to talk to, and doing all known preventive measures for depression.
LET PEOPLE KNOW
It helps to always have a strong support system who will pull you up when you feel like falling down – so while most think it’s not a good idea to let people know, IT ACTUALLY IS!
Just find the right people to talk to… people you trust, people you love, and people who care about you. And if all these things aren’t enough, remember the professionals trained to help us in times like these!
Thing is, we won’t run out of options. We just have to find the tiniest energy to fight.
SEASONAL DEPRESSION IS NOT JUST WINTER BLUES
Confusing, as I have mentioned most people refer to them as “winter blues”, right? That’s because that’s the most common.
But hold up… there’s this rare form – Summer Depression, beginning in the late spring!
STATISTICS SAY…
That Summer Depression is diagnosed in around 11 million people in the US each year, while around 25 million more are suffering from Winter Depression.
MORNING SUN IS YOUR BEST FRIEND!
Doctors recommend that people who suffer from Seasonal Depression get out early in the morning to get more natural light. But that could be impossible during winter because it’s dark, right?
That’s why some consider light therapy and guess what… Some people recover only within days! While of course there are still others who take much longer, and if symptoms don’t go away, just like in medicine dosage, the sessions are increased.
JUST REMEMBER THE BASICS
If things get hard for you and you’re already at the stage where you can’t think clearly enough… The simplest way is to remember the basics of life: (a) the right amount of sleep, (b) healthy food, & (c) the right amount of exercise.
These 3 have more benefits than you could imagine, and can’t actually just save you from falling into depression, but also literally save a life.
BUT IF THINGS STILL ARE HARD AND YOU DO NOT KNOW WHERE TO START…
GET HELP IF YOU NEED
If it feels hard to decide what you want to do on your own – get a mentor. Reach out if you need help. It is always important and there will always be things that you can support.
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To your success and keep smiling,
