It's that time of year once again folks. The clocks have gone back. The nights are getting longer. The mornings darker. The hours of sunlight less. I suffer from depression and anxiety all year round, but there's a noticeable difference when November rolls around, because I have SAD or Seasonal Affective Disorder.
SAD (sometimes called the "Winter blues") isn't fully understood, and some people actually experience it in the summer instead, but its symptoms include: a persistent low mood that follows seasonal patterns, sleeping longer than normal or finding it hard to get up in the morning, and craving carbohydrates, amongst others. {For more info, the NHS has a section on SAD here}. It can be a tricky thing to manage, especially when I think most of us in the northern hemisphere have been brought up thinking of the "winter blues" as normal. But there are things you can do, here are some of the things I try to keep my SAD under control:
And of course, if you're really struggling, as with any other mental health condition, go see your GP. Therapy or medication might be better options for you, and as someone who uses both, let me promise you there's nothing wrong with needing either! So, stay hydrated, get moving in the morning, use the light, eat properly and above all remember, you're not alone. Hope you all have a good winter! I'll be sitting in front of my lamp if you need me!
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