Victoria has been hit with its largest snowfall in recorded history. Over 55 centimeters have fallen since Monday. For some people the cold weather and grey skies can lead to seasonal affective disorder (S.A.D). This is a type of depression that is brought on by seasonal changes. For the purposes of this article I will focus on the effects of the inclement weather of the fall and winter months on people’s mental health. According to the Mayo clinic symptoms include:
- Feeling depressed most of the day, nearly every day
- Losing interest in activities you once enjoyed
- Having low energy
- Having problems with sleeping
- Experiencing changes in your appetite or weight
- Feeling sluggish or agitated
- Having difficulty concentrating
- Feeling hopeless, worthless or guilty
- Having frequent thoughts of death or suicide
The winter specific version of S.A.D includes the following symptoms:
- Oversleeping
- Appetite changes, especially a craving for foods high in carbohydrates
- Weight gain
- Tiredness or low energy
Pretty grim stuff. So what can you do to avoid ease these symptoms? Well the mayo clinic also offers some solutions:
First and foremost, if you are feeling depressed for days at a time then you should consult your doctor. The treatments outlined below can be helpful but if your problem is serious than you should seek professional help. One of the easiest things you can do is to brighten up your day. Open blinds, trim hedges and spend time closer to bright windows. You should also aim to go outside as often as you can and exercise regularly. You should aim to get the right amount of sleep. This means both getting enough sleep and not oversleeping. S.A.D often leads to people feeling like “hibernating” so sleeping to much will likely exasperate your symptoms. people suffering from S.A.D should also aim to socialize often.