041MINDS columnist Nicole Mohamed talks about Seasonal Affective Disorder and gives some practical advice on what signs and symptoms to look out for.
READERS, I am back in my column as only a true ADHD-er with no object permanence would be! The past few months, or weeks (I’m never completely sure with timelines) have been quite interesting and rather yuck, for lack of a better word. Our sudden experience of a truly cold winter started off great but has taken a bit of a turn as the colder days have lasted longer than usual. This winter has taken a toll on me mentally and physically. If you can relate, then this column is just for you.
Seasons can actually “give you the SAD”, but not in a cute Pixar kind of way. SAD, or Seasonal Affective Disorder is a lot more common than you would think. Traditionally known as a depressive disorder that affects people in the Northern Hemisphere; SAD is something that can affect anyone who lives a distance away from the equator. The further away you are, the more severe the symptoms can be. Winter seems to be the main contributor to this disorder, but “Summertime Sadness” is also not just a Lana Del Ray song, you can legitimately feel summertime sadness.
Here are some signs and symptoms to look out for:
- Feeling listless, sad or down most of the day, nearly every day
- Losing interest in activities you once enjoyed
- Having low energy and feeling sluggish
- Having problems with sleeping too much
- Experiencing carbohydrate cravings, overeating and weight gain
- Having difficulty concentrating
- Feeling hopeless, worthless or guilty
- Having thoughts of not wanting to live
These symptoms may seem a bit extreme for someone who’s just getting a bit chilly, but there are a number of contributing factors that come with our annual seasons that could actually affect your overall mental health:
- Your biological clock-while we’re not exactly in the daylight savings strip of the globe, waking up to darkness (or too much light in the summer) can affect people’s moods. Particularly if they work a job that only has them coming home after sunset.
- Serotonin levels- yup, this is a tough one for those of us who already have a problem with serotonin production. A decrease in sunlight can affect your serotonin levels. When the Sunlight ad sang “Sunlight and water are all that you need”, it wasn’t just about dishwashing liquid. We’re basically overgrown houseplants.
- Melatonin levels- this is that good stuff that gives you that drool-inducing deep sleep. A change of season can change your melatonin levels. Essentially, we’re only supposed to function between sunrise and sunset. Work and school hours don’t really fall into that category. Now, before you run off to your boss and tell them they’ve set horrible working hours for your mental health; don’t blame them, blame Henry Ford.
You may even already be carrying some risk factors that make you more prone to SAD. A family history of this disorder, or any other form of depression, can put you at risk. So, track back to your Ouma Grootjie and see if maybe she was also pro-hibernation or was known for age-old sayings like “It’s not the heat that gets you, it’s the humidity”. Other risk factors include current bipolar or major depression and low vitamin D levels.
If you’ve found yourself huddled under a blanket on the couch, isolated from the world and contemplating eating a whole pizza to yourself while watching the infamous scene with Atreyu and Artax in Neverending Story, don’t just put it down to winter blues, consult with your doctor, psychologist or psychiatrist and get the help you need.
SAD is not a natural way of life. Nor is an excruciating amount of joy and rainbows either though (you might want to get that checked out too if you’re experiencing that for prolonged periods of time). We are supposed to experience balance. We’re supposed to have good days and bad days that balance each other out with some mediocre days too. You’re not admitting failure if you realise that the bad days are becoming overwhelming and are happening far too often. You’re admitting that you care enough about yourself to find a way to be better.
As we endure the last leg of this painfully cold winter, remember to be kind to one another and keep it spicy.
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