I’m new to the cold. Actually, I’ve been in Michigan for about three years, and every year, around this time I feel zapped. I still say I’m new to give me some excuse for not being used to it. This is more common than you’d think. In fact, they’ve given it a name: seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Women are 4 times more likely to be diagnosed with SAD. But this may just be because women are more likely to reach out.
SAD usually occurs around the end of fall and hangs around until the weather warms up and flowers start peeking out again.
Some of the symptoms of SAD may include:
- feeling depressed
- losing interest in things
- having low energy
- having issues with sleeping
- feeling more agitated
- not being able to concentrate
- changes in appetite
- feeling hopeless
Specific symptoms of SAD include:
- Oversleeping
- Weight gain
- Appetite changes (craving those carbs)
Some Factors that Increase your Risk
- Family history of depression or SAD. Gotta love our genetics
- Having major depression or bipolar disorder. Your symptoms may worsen.
- Living far from the equator. Yep, this is what I’m doing wrong. I miss the sun and the heat dearly. The sunlight is around for a shorter time further away from the equator.
When do get help for SAD. It’s complicated.
It’s literally when your life starts feeling the impact. If you start showing these signs find help.
- Significant withdrawal
- School or work problems
- Excess substance use
- Suicidal thoughts
- Develop significant anxiety
Here is a different perspective.
What if it’s “natural” to feel more sluggish in the winter? What if it’s the worlds way of making you rest, cuddle up, and/or read more? Why is it we can’t just be a little less fast paced in the winter months? Our lives are constantly go, go, go. We often feel like we aren’t productive “enough” and we tend to be very self-deprecating. Why are depression rates so high in the US? *ponder face*
Maybe winter is just a part of a larger cycle telling us to slow down and to teach us more self-care techniques. There has been research that there are cyclic qualities to our lives. New research shows that in the winter, our thyroid slows down. Other research shows that our immunity changes throughout the day. So what if, we are just trying to “out smart” the natural cyclic cycle.
Maybe it’s time to reframe SAD.
Maybe it’s a chance to experience our own Hygge (Click here to learn about Hygge). What if it’s considered a hibernation period where we are allowed to be slightly slower. Here are some great rituals that could increase your ability to be cozy and ways to reframe this negative experience.
- Drink more warm beverages when you’re home and relaxing
- Use more candles to offer comfort.
- Allow yourself to catch up on sleep and work on more reflection to prep for more fast paced times
- Enjoy warm baths, showers, hot tubs
- Cuddle more and relax.
- Read more under a warm blanket
SAD vs Natural Rhythms
Seasonal depression can be intolerable. If it starts wreaking havoc and you’re not able to function seek help. The winter can be a great time to work on your mindfulness and relaxation. It can be a time to challenge that SAD could be created from expecting more of ourselves. It can be an example of when our lifestyles and expectations are once again mismatched against our genetic tendency to slow down and join the cycle of the seasons.
Instead, maybe it is a good time to challenge the thought that something is wrong and honor the feeling of slowing down. It’s dangerous to consistently be deafeningly busy. Think about how you can respond to these feelings and allow it to help you find alignment in your life
Talk soon,
Sarah xo
References
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20364651
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272735806000651
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1114487/
https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/90/5/2522/2836608
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3315694/
