If you’ve been feeling sad than usual lately, you’re not alone. Aside from the current economic issues and political news, cold weather can bring a number of things that can alter your mood.

The winter months are prone to bring things to us like the flu, hazardous weather conditions, and Seasonal Depression.

When I first heard about Seasonal Depression, I thought this was something completely made up. As someone who’s experienced battling with depression, the thought of it only occurring for a season was odd.

However, after careful research, I realized that not only is Seasonal Depression real, but many people suffer from it without even knowing it.

What is Seasonal Depression?

Seasonal depression is just as it sounds: a type of depression that happens during the change of seasons. While it may seem far-fetched to someone who has not experienced this kind of depression, in reality, it’s more common than you think.

A study by the Cleveland Clinic showed that 5% of adults in the U.S. experience seasonal depression usually between the ages of 18 and 30.

As the winter brings more dark days, most people experience seasonal depression around this time as the lack of sunlight can cause the body’s serotonin to drop.

Yet seasonal depression doesn’t always occur during the winter. In fact, research shows that suicide rates actually increase during the spring and summer seasons. This means seasonal depression doesn’t have a specific holiday where it can happen to people — it can happen at any time!

Signs and Symptoms

The common signs and symptoms that occur with Seasonal Depression can include feelings of sadness, lack of energy, loss of interest in usual activities, oversleeping, and weight gain.

While the signs may seem like the standard signs for those with a history of depression, it’s important to monitor when the changes in mood start.

For example, if you were perfectly okay during the winter but somehow took a 180 during the summer, that could be a sign of Seasonal Depression. However, if you still have the signs of depression for an extended period of time regardless of the season then you could have another form of depression that required immediate help.

When it comes to depression, taking account and being mindful of your mind and body is key to getting the right treatment and help that will work best for you.

Treatments for Seasonal Depression

Fortunately, we live in a time where there are a number of resources for you to explore and choose from that won’t break your budget.

One of the best practices doctors and physicians suggest for depression is the great outdoors. Studies show that spending time in nature positively stimulates the immune system, changes your mood, and increases self-esteem.

Another tip that can help with seasonal depression is meditation. There are thousands of studies and articles detailing how daily meditation practice is essential. Not only does meditation increase serotonin levels in your body (which promotes happy feelings) but it also helps ease depression by stimulating the pineal gland in the brain, creating more melatonin which promotes relaxation.

And if you want to be more conscious about how to handle seasonal depression, keep a close eye on the foods you are eating. Fatty foods can cause inflammation in the body which can make you feel sluggish and moody.

Think about it: how many times have you wanted a burger so bad but the moment you finished your meal, you all of a sudden felt like you can’t move? Not to bash burgers (because they’re delicious as hell) but eating a burger or other fatty foods when you are depressed isn’t a wise choice.

The Best Thing For Seasonal Depression

Although seasonal depression can be short-lived, experiencing it can feel like forever. The best thing you can do is to make sure you focus on your health physically, mentally, and spiritually.

Be mindful of those sad days, what are the triggers, and learn new ways to take care of your body and mind. And while that may seem like a lot of work, the more information you know about yourself the best chance you have at eliminating depression.

Make intentional time to take care of yourself even on the days when you don’t feel like doing it. At the end of the day, you are your best advocate and you are the person who knows how to take care of you best.

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Til next time,

kim delarosa

Photo by Anthony Tran on Unsplash

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