Seasonal Affective Disorder – Are you feeling sad?
Now the evenings are drawing in and the hours of light becoming less, many people start to feel the symptoms of SAD, otherwise known as winter depression.
Symptoms of SAD
- a persistent low mood
- feelings of anxiety, irritability, despair
- tiredness
- lack of energy
- sleeping longer than normal and finding it hard to get up in the morning
- eating more carbohydrates
- weight gain
Why does SAD occur?
It is often linked to the reduced exposure to sunlight and the main theory is that the part of the brain called the hypothalamus can be affected.
When this happens, the following may be affected:-
- serotonin production – a lack of sunlight may lead to lower serotonin levels which may affect your appetite, mood and sleep
- melatonin production – melatonin is a hormone that makes you feel sleepy, so the body may be producing higher levels than normal
- body clock – the body is used to using sunlight for sleeping i.e. going to bed and waking up, so the winter months can disrupt this process
Lifestyle changes over winter
Because of the reduction in sunlight hours, SAD can occur with the lifestyle changes that may happen.
For example:-
- you may feel less inclined to get out and/or exercise
- you may feel the need to eat more
- a sense of hibernation
- stress levels can become heightened because of the above, leading to feelings of anxiety and low mood
Help for SAD
There are several treatment options for SAD including talking therapies, medication and light therapy. A complementary therapy many find useful in the treatment of this form of depression is hypnotherapy.
Hypnotherapy can have a positive affect on how you manage these feelings and changes throughout the seasonal months. Instead of reverting to previous feelings and patterns of thought, hypnosis encourages the creation of more beneficial reactions and responses which in turn can give a brighter outlook and feeling for life.
It is important to seek medical advice from your GP if you feel you are suffering depression from SAD.
For more information on how Hypnotherapy can help you please call 07909 992635 / 01403 267276 or click on the following link https://clinicalhypnotherapywestsussex.co.uk/contact-us/