Got the Winter Blues?

SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) occurs during the fall and winter months; reason being is that we do not get enough sun exposure during the fall and winter months. SAD can also occur during the summer and spring months; this however is rare. Don’t brush off that feeling of “winter blues” know the symptoms, causes and what you can do to keep your mood steady through the year.

Symptoms:

• Oversleeping or feeling that you did not get enough sleep
• Appetite change, especially craving starchy foods ie: pasta, potatoes, sugar
• Weight Gain
• Tiredness or low energy

Causes:

• Internal Clock: The decreased sunlight disturbs the body’s internal clock and lead to feelings of depression.
• Serotonin Levels: This chemical plays a huge party in feeling happy; A drop in serotonin can cause depression, due to lack of sunlight exposure levels of serotonin go down.
• Melatonin Levels: Melatonin plays a huge pat in sleep patters and mood; the change in season can in fact disturb the balance o the body’s levels of melatonin.

Treatment:

Treatment for SAD may include light therapy, medication and psychotherapy. It’s normal to have “off days”, but if you feel down for days at a time and cannot get motivated to do activities you normally enjoy, see your doctor or therapist. If not treated SAD can get worse and lead to problems if it’s not treated. This can include:

• Social withdrawal
• School or work problems
• Substance abuse
• Other mental health disorder such as anxiety or eating disorders
• Suicidal thought or behaviour

SAD is treatable and manageable and treatment is available. At Be Well we offer a variety of therapy options which can assist with SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). Call 905-709-7979 or book online.