Most people don't really realise it but they tend to become gloomy during the winter season. The reason why they feel sad is because of SAD or Seasonal Affective Disorder. As the name suggests, the SAD occurs in people when the seasons begin to change where the days get shorter and the nights get longer. And since humans aren't nocturnal in nature, they tend to feel gloomy or upset with the change in the season.
It was recently reported that 4-6% in America regularly suffer from SAD and at least 10-20% have a mild case of it. “SAD can be as debilitating as traditional yearlong anxiety and/or depression,” said clinical psychologist Amanda Rafkin. When sunlight levels are low, hormones like serotonin and melatonin are affected. This leads to an impact on mood, sleep cycle and overall health. Here are a few tips that might help you combat SAD.
- Recognise the signs and symptoms: The very first thing you need to do is learn to recognise the signs and symptoms of suffering from SAD. You'll tend to feel sad and lonely and even less energised. Once you recognise it, you can either take measures to combat it or seek professional help.
- Stay connected: “Research shows that those with a larger support network can make behavioural changes easier,” psychotherapist Aimee Bernstein tells said. “Create an agreement with your support network to spend time together doing fun things, especially during the winter months, that will shift your mood and energize you.”
- Don't opt for unhealthy habits: We tend to overindulge in alcohol or junk food when we feel low but while these habits may temporarily provide relief, they're bad for health in the long run. So, make sure to steer clear of such unhealthy habits.
- Meditate: You could try meditation as it can help boost serotonin levels in the body. What's more, meditation can also help you feel more calm and relaxed while drawing your attention away from negative thoughts.
- Get professional help: If nothing else works then the best you can do is to seek medical help. A therapist will help you figure out how to deal with your feelings and will also prescribe medication if needed.
Follow these tips and you'll be able to deal with SAD in the right way. Stay tuned for more updates.
