Feeling SAD during season change?
It's that time of year again, the weather is slowly beginning to get warmer, and the days feel like they are lasting longer. Maybe it was also due to COVID-19, but the “winter blues” felt more difficult this season. The constant overcast grey days got me wanting to stay curled up in bed all day watching TV. For those of us who battle with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) the winter can seem incredibly long and challenging, however when spring comes having these warm sunny days feel incredibly uplifting.
Seasonal Affective Disorder is a type of depression that occurs due to seasonal change. Usually during the winter months those with SAD experience mood changes and symptoms similar to depression, such as feelings of sadness, loss of interests, changes in appetite, disturbance in sleep, etc. SAD has been linked to shorter day light hours and less exposure to the sun.
The sun can have a significant impact on your mental and physical health. While we often hear about the risk of sun exposure, with the right SPF and moderate sun exposure, sunlight can work wonders! Last week we had a really warm, sunny day, I didn’t even have to wear a coat and I was in the best mood, I felt like nothing could ruin my day and I felt so energized. I could not explain my sudden increase in mood other than the sun being out.
Benefits of sunlight:
1. Increases serotonin which boosts your energy and helps you stay calm
2. Improves your sleep
3. Reduces stress
4. Strengthens your bones
5. Provides vitamin D
6. Reduces blood pressure
So, what can you do now that the weather is getting better? Get outside! Go for walks, ride your bike, explore nature, or even just sit out in the sun for 10 min every morning and see how you feel after one week.
Meet Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) and author of this post, Cheyanne!
Cheyanne D’Souza
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
cheyanne@reboundtotalhealth.ca
“Counselling made such a positive impact in my life and I learned so many things on my healing journey that I wanted to share it with others.”
