Seasonal Affective Disorder is very common this time of year with a lack of sunlight a key contributor.
"Oftentimes seasonal affective disorder is, you know, linked to this biological imbalance that happens in the brain often when they're shorter daylight hours and usually less sunlight in the winter," says Heidi Bausch-Ryan, Vice President of training at Care Counseling. "Symptoms are similar to depression and include a lack of motivation, concentration, sluggishness, a loss of energy, and changes to appetite."
Bausch-Ryan suggests performing some type of activity throughout the day and to make connections with important people in their lives to help offset these characteristics.
Nearly five-percent of adults in the United States suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder every year with many of those cases more common in the Midwest.
The main culprit?
"People often experience mood changes and symptoms that are similar to depression, usually related to some type of internal biological clock or circadian rhythm that changes around the light differences that occur throughout the year."
What are some symptoms we should look for?
"Feelings, sad or having a kind of a lull or a depressed mood," says Bausch-Ryan. "They're not maybe feeling as engaged or motivated or they don't have that internal drive."
She says they use a variety of treatments for her clients, including light therapy.
"Using it right at the beginning of the day can help to create that sense of momentum and connection in that individual's kind of flow and rhythm for the day," Bausch-Ryan says.
Signs may include:
- Feeling listless, sad or down most of the day, nearly every day
- Losing interest in activities you once enjoyed
- Having low energy and feeling sluggish
- Having problems with sleeping too much
- Experiencing carbohydrate cravings, overeating and weight gain
- Having difficulty concentrating
- Feeling hopeless, worthless or guilty
- Having thoughts of not wanting to live
These symptoms often resolve during the spring and summer months. Less often, SAD causes depression in the spring or early summer and resolves during the fall or winter months.
According to Mayo Clinic, it's normal to have some days when you feel down. But if you feel down for days at a time and you can't get motivated to do activities you normally enjoy, see your health care provider. This is especially important if your sleep patterns and appetite have changed, you turn to alcohol for comfort or relaxation, or you feel hopeless or think about suicide.
Want to get caught up on what's happening in SoCal every weekday afternoon? Click to follow The L.A. Local wherever you get podcasts.
Follow KNX News 97.1 FM
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok