One of the challenges of the holiday season is that it comes with a variety of triggers for depression, anxiety, stress, addictive behaviors, the blues and more. If you’ve been feeling out of sorts, one common ailment in the winter months is Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD. We found a list of “9 Ways to Cope With Seasonal Affective Disorder” on The Daily Beast that might help you get through short days and long nights with your holiday spirit intact. Here’s an excerpt, and you can click the link below for the full article. And, as always, if you’re in the greater Cleveland area and need help with diagnosis, treatment or management of a mental health issue, please give us a call.
Do dark, chilly days make your mood cloud over this time each year? You’re not alone: Roughly 10 to 20 percent of Americans report feeling tired or sad when there are fewer hours of daylight in the winter months. With bone-chilling temperatures and blustery winds, it’s easy to give in to laziness and snooze just a little longer instead of dragging yourself to that early spin class — or, make a date with Netflix instead of bundling up and getting dinner with friends.
While many people can still function even if they’re feeling a bit melancholy, for some, winter brings a clinical form of depression called seasonal affective disorder, also known as SAD. According to Kelly Rohan, Ph.D, Professor and Director of Clinical Training at University of Vermont, at least two percent of the population suffers from the psychiatric condition, but that percentage tends to increase in regions with shorter hours of sunlight. Researchers estimate that up to ten percent of Alaskans experience SAD symptoms such as fatigue, overeating, loss of interest in activities and difficulty concentrating.
Another SAD factor? Genetics. Just like depression, your likelihood of experiencing seasonal affective disorder can increase if your family has a history of mood disorders. And surprisingly, gender may also play a role in your bleak winter outlook. Studies show seasonal affective disorder is four times more common in women than men. Though researchers have struggled to understand exactly what contributes to this gender difference, Dr. Rohan has one hypothesis. “Women [stereotypically] ruminate on feelings more than men,” she says, and brooding on those sad sentiments can lead to more severe depression in some cases.