Golden brown, red, and yellow leaves shower down on your drive back from work. There’s a crisp bite in the air as you step out, and delicious smells and heat greet you as you walk inside. You have a big weekend planned- corn mazes and pumpkin carving and planning for the holidays.
But for some reason, you just can’t get excited about it.
There’s an emptiness in you, no matter how full of pumpkin-everything you get, and it can’t be chased away by holiday shopping. Sometimes, that makes it worse.
Why are you feeling like this? Where do these despondent and blue feelings come from? You had a great summer, felt strong going into the fall, and now with winter just around the corner…sometimes you struggle to get out of bed.
You might be fighting Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD for short). It shares many similarities with depression but occurs at certain times during the year.
Like depression, SAD can leave you feeling hopeless. Thriveworks Savannah is here to show you that it is far from hopeless! Fighting Seasonal Affective Disorder can be difficult, but together we can get you feeling like yourself no matter what the weather is doing.
What is Seasonal Affective Disorder?
SAD is a lot like depression. It’s much, much more than feeling sad during winter. Feeling sad isn’t even one of the requirements! Neither is winter; SAD can take place during any season, although the symptoms most commonly start in the fall and continue into the winter.
If you notice a change in yourself of a loved one when the weather shifts, it’s worth talking to a professional. The best mental health comes from being proactive and responding quickly when something flares up.
There’s nothing to be ashamed of if you struggle with SAD. It doesn’t make you “weak”. Many scientific studies have shown the importance of sunshine and good weather for mental health. During months of dreary weather, we start to feel down as well. In some people, this manifests as SAD.
Thriveworks Savannah is here to help you through the bad months and prepare for the future no matter what your personal experience is with SAD. Some of the more common symptoms include:
- Low energy
- Difficulty concentrating
- Feeling depressed all day, nearly every day
- Frequent thoughts of death or suicide
- Lack of interest in things you enjoy
- Sleep issues
- Changes in weight or appetite
- Feeling agitated or sluggish
- Feeling helpless or worthless
SAD can make us feel isolated. It’s important to reach out when you’re struggling. Thriveworks Savannah is excited to meet you and begin feeling better so we can thrive together!
What does therapy for SAD look like?
Thriveworks Savannah counseling sessions all look different, because we all have one thing in common: keeping you at the front and center.
With a client-centered philosophy and a judgement-free space, Thriveworks Savannah counselors are able to adapt to your personality, situations, and goals. The most important thing in a counseling session is you!
With that being said, there are some tools and techniques we have found that work best when treating SAD, and we might implement some of them in a session. For example, you might discuss:
- How we can use your community to support you
- Reinstalling your passions for hobbies and activities
- Developing healthy sleep, exercise, and eating habits
- Light therapy (using special lamps or even just getting outside!)
- Journaling, meditation, or other self-care methods
We might also discuss the possibility of using anti-depressants, which can prove very helpful during these dark months.
Thriveworks Savannah wants to be your biggest supporter as you fight SAD. There can be light in your life again, and we are excited to help you find it!
