As I write this entry, we are right in the middle of winter. Groundhog Day has just happened, which for me marks the beginning of the downhill slide into spring. However, this last week has been very trying for many of us in my part of the world – lots of little rounds of snow, lots of slippery roads to drive on and slippery places to walk, cold temperatures, wearing lots of layers of clothing, and lots of snow removal efforts. Luckily, I haven’t had to do a ton of any of those things, but it is crystal clear that winter is not going anywhere for awhile.
For some of us, winter can be even harder than what I described above. It can affect your entire mood and not be temporary, but can hang around for the entire season. Some people may know this as Seasonal Affect Disorder (SAD), and it is a very real thing. There is the thought that some of it is due to the lower amount of sunlight found in the winter time, however, there are people who experience SAD in the spring, summer, or fall. Everyone is different.
Treatment for SAD can include light therapy (also known as phototherapy). Medications and psychotherapy (for example, talk therapy) may also be used, although any treatments must be individualized for each person who may be struggling with SAD.
The key is that no matter if you think you may have SAD or another type of depression, you should get it checked out. SAD can be just as serious as depression or another mood disorder. We all have our down days, but if they continue over several days it is important to figure out what may be going on, and I encourage you to seek help if that happens in your life.