Seasonal Affective Disorder is a challenge, but there are ways to overcome it

Bills are due, holiday parties are gone, January is an unpopular month, and although your bank account may be lighter, the number on the scale may be larger.

FOX 2.Bills are due, holiday parties are gone, January is an unpopular month, and although your bank account may be lighter, the number on the scale may be larger.And there’s the weather, of course. Short days, little sunshine, a lot of darkness, and extremely low temperatures can all contribute to seasonal affective disorder.

The weather is shifting; it’s overcast and gloomy. Rainfall could be heavy. There might be snow, too, depending on where you reside. “Sunlight is decreasing,” Kia Rai Prewitt remarked.

Dark skies, depressed adults, people with sleep problems, and light therapy boxes.

“Symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder include feelings of sadness, lack of energy, and difficulty sleeping,” explains Prewitt, a psychologist at the Cleveland Clinic.

Seasonal Affective Disorder can affect everyone, but it is more prevalent in younger adults. According to Doctor Prewitt, those who suffer from clinical depression may also be more susceptible.

Light therapy, which simulates outdoor light with a specific lamp, may provide some respite for those who are having difficulties.

The doctor advises forcing yourself to walk more and interact with others, even though we might want to curl up on the couch and hide under a blanket.

“Forcing oneself to do something fun even when you don’t feel like it is sometimes necessary. It’s similar to working out,” she remarked. “We are aware that exercise is beneficial to us, but many individuals find it difficult to reach the point where they can perform the activity.

“But you feel wonderful once you’ve done it, don’t you? Therefore, even if it requires a little more work, it might be accomplishing certain things nevertheless.”