Dec 22, 2019 09:02 PM
(This post was last modified: Dec 22, 2019 09:45 PM by Magical Realist.)
https://www.rush.edu/health-wellness/dis...LAGoX4TZiQ
"The winter blues are very common, with many of us experiencing a mood shift during the colder, darker days of winter. You may find yourself feeling more lethargic and down overall. Although you may feel more gloomy than usual, the winter blues typically don't hinder your ability to enjoy life.
But if your winter blues start permeating all aspects of your life — from work to relationships — you may be facing SAD. SAD is a recurrent type of depression associated with the change in seasons. It typically starts in the fall and persists through the winter months.
SAD is more complicated than wanting to hunker down and stay in for the night. It's more than simply cursing another blizzard. And it's more than longing for those first days of spring. Basically, it's much more than the winter blues.
"SAD can be debilitating for some people," says Joyce Corsica, PhD, a clinical psychologist at Rush. "And if you're suffering from it, it's important to get help."
Sun power
The primary culprit of both the winter blues and SAD is the lower level of natural sunlight we are exposed to in the fall and winter. Less natural light can cause the following problems:
Dips in serotonin, a neurotransmitter that regulates mood
Disruptions in circadian rhythms (your body’s internal clock), which help control sleep-wake cycles
Alterations in melatonin, a hormone associated with both mood and sleep
"All of these factors can have a direct impact on your mood," says Corsica. "And if you're having mood difficulties, other things can start to fall apart too. You may find less enjoyment in your life, your work performance may suffer and you may start struggling with your relationships. None of this happens in a vacuum."
Here are four ways to get a leg up on the winter blues and SAD:
https://www.rush.edu/health-wellness/dis...LAGoX4TZiQ
"The winter blues are very common, with many of us experiencing a mood shift during the colder, darker days of winter. You may find yourself feeling more lethargic and down overall. Although you may feel more gloomy than usual, the winter blues typically don't hinder your ability to enjoy life.
But if your winter blues start permeating all aspects of your life — from work to relationships — you may be facing SAD. SAD is a recurrent type of depression associated with the change in seasons. It typically starts in the fall and persists through the winter months.
SAD is more complicated than wanting to hunker down and stay in for the night. It's more than simply cursing another blizzard. And it's more than longing for those first days of spring. Basically, it's much more than the winter blues.
"SAD can be debilitating for some people," says Joyce Corsica, PhD, a clinical psychologist at Rush. "And if you're suffering from it, it's important to get help."
Sun power
The primary culprit of both the winter blues and SAD is the lower level of natural sunlight we are exposed to in the fall and winter. Less natural light can cause the following problems:
Dips in serotonin, a neurotransmitter that regulates mood
Disruptions in circadian rhythms (your body’s internal clock), which help control sleep-wake cycles
Alterations in melatonin, a hormone associated with both mood and sleep
"All of these factors can have a direct impact on your mood," says Corsica. "And if you're having mood difficulties, other things can start to fall apart too. You may find less enjoyment in your life, your work performance may suffer and you may start struggling with your relationships. None of this happens in a vacuum."
Here are four ways to get a leg up on the winter blues and SAD:
https://www.rush.edu/health-wellness/dis...LAGoX4TZiQ
