SAD? – LET THERE BE LIGHT!
The holidays are here and it’s the season to be joyful and in good spirits! And For many, it will offer lots of opportunities to spend quality time with family and friends.
But, if you are a family caregiver, you may notice a change of moods or behaviors around this time of year unrelated to the holidays. The attitude change your loved one, or even you, may experience could be a form of depression called Seasonal Affective Disorder or better known as SAD.
SO, WHAT IS SAD?
Seasonal Affective Disorder is a form of depression that can make you feel glum and down in the dumps. Although, SAD symptoms recur annually and typically during the winter months, it can leave many, who suffer from it to feel despondent, irritable, or just plain tired. And just as the name implies, it can cause a person to become sad, causing mood swings, a lack of energy, and affecting sleep.
Research studies have found the condition known as Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD can leave a person feeling hopeless and depressed, have an effect on overall health, as well as relationships with family, friends and others, and can in general cause you or your family member to have a case of the "blues".
COMMON SYMPTOMS OF SEASONAL DEPRESSION
Some of the Common symptoms of seasonal depression include:
Depressed mood, low self-esteem
Loss of interest or pleasure in activities you used to enjoy
Feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and despair
Feeling angry, irritable, stressed, or anxious
Unexplained aches and pains
Changes in sleeping pattern
Appetite and weight changes
Difficulty concentrating
According to a Mayo Clinic study, some symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder may include: loss of energy, social withdrawal, excessive sleeping, changes in appetite and more.
Also, studies show SAD symptoms, like other forms of depression, can vary from person to person. As a result, your body clock or sleep-wake cycle reacts to changes between light and dark to adjust your sleep, mood, and appetite. The shorter days and reduced exposure to sunlight that occurs in winter are believed to be the cause of throwing the cycle out of whack.
WELL, HERE’S A FLASH!! - WHERE THERE’S LIGHT THERE IS HOPE
There are effective techniques to manage Seasonal Affective Disorder, and I’ve listed 8 tips that experts say can help ward off symptoms of SAD
practice relaxation techniques like mindfulness
Do exercises such as yoga and tai chi with doctors permission
Learn as much as possible about the disorder
Reach out to others for support
Eat a well balanced diet
Get adequate amount of sleep
Open the drapes or blinds for natural sunlight or keep rooms bright
Listen to inspirational music
While the exact causes of Seasonal Affective Disorder are unclear, most experts agree the longer nights and shorter days of winter can disrupt your internal clock—leaving you feeling groggy, disoriented.
Finally, although December is SAD month, if there was one thing I learned over the years as a caregiver, it was to keep an attitude of gratitude and take my lemons and make lemonade. So, in spite of any circumstances, the best way I found to keep in balance, was just to go with the flow as I continued along the journey.
Be Well - Stay Well - Because Caregivers Need Care Too!!
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Coach Gloria
Life Strategies/Wellness Coach & Caregiver/Patient Advocate
Owner: GJ Brown & Associates
Blog: Glo’s Caregiver Wellness Connection
Email: gbrown1gjba@gmail.com
Website: http://gbrown1gjba.wix.com/caregiverwellness