What is seasonal affective disorder?

Does it seem like everything is a little bit harder and more overwhelming this time of year? With Thanksgiving and Christmas, the cooler weather making it easier to stay cozy at home, and the many opportunities to spend time with family and friends, fall and winter should be relaxing times to recharge – right?

If you find yourself feeling anxious or depressed during the colder months, you are not alone. There are anxiety therapists in long beach that can help.  At least 3 million Americans struggle with seasonal affective disorder, and while you may be tempted to “wait it out” because you know you will feel better in the spring, wouldn’t it be nice to look forward to each new day, even in the winter?

Symptoms

Many people experience different symptoms, but seasonal affective disorder is usually accompanied by excessive fatigue, irritability, and depression. Overall, people feel like life is harder to handle, so they tend to remove themselves from commitments or plans that they have made with family or friends. They might notice that their performance at work or school is less than ideal, which might draw the attention of their supervisors or colleagues. Additionally, most affected individuals may be family members who become concerned about the attitude and behavior of their loved ones.

Treatments

A standard “home remedy” is light therapy, sitting by a special light that transmits the Vitamin D that we receive from the sun during warmer months. Many people use these lights at their desks while they are at work or on their nightstands as they are preparing to go to sleep.

Light therapy may not work for everyone, and it may not help anyone feel themselves ultimately, so talk therapy is often viewed as the most effective treatment for seasonal affective disorder. SAD can feel very isolating because perhaps no one else around you struggles with it, so you feel a level of shame for not being able to cope with life the same as you usually would. During talk therapy, your therapist will make you realize that you are not alone, you are not flawed, and there are ways to get yourself out of this funk. Sometimes, directly talking through what you are feeling and thinking will help you put it all into perspective and take a step forward where you previously felt powerless. Your therapist can give you mindfulness practices and other techniques to apply when you feel a wave of depression coming ashore. If after several sessions, you and your therapist decide that you need some additional assistance, your physician might prescribe a medication for you.

Outlook

Do not be ashamed to talk with your family, friends, and colleagues to let them know what is going on. They would love to be able to lend a hand and support you in your struggles, so don’t be afraid to tell them what you need along the way. You are not alone, and spring is coming!

At Novus Mindful Life Institute, we believe that everyone deserves to live a healthy and fulfilling life. We are dedicated to helping one person, one couple, one family at a time heal from the impact of sex addiction therapy. We are located in Long Beach, CA, but we also have a wealth of online resources, and we host The Addicted Mind podcast with many guests that are well-known in the industry.