We are now well and truly in wintertime, with darker, greyer, colder days. This can make us more liable to stay inside, leading to isolation. 21st December is the shortest day of the year. How does that make you feel?
One thing that is very real for many people at this time of the year is S.A.D. or to give it its full title Seasonal Affective Disorder. It is a condition that can affect us because we are not getting sufficient daylight exposure, vitamin D, fresh air or human contact. NHS mental health services list the following as symptoms of S.A.D.: -
A persistent low mood;
A loss of pleasure or interest in normal everyday activities;
Irritability;
Feelings of despair, guilt and worthlessness;
Lethargy and feeling like sleeping during the day;
Sleeping longer than normal and finding it hard to get up in the morning.
S.A.D. can affect people who throughout the rest of the year function quite normally but as the darker days start to become more noticeable, we see less people, mood and disposition becomes affected.
Love it or loath it, it is virtually impossible to get through the winter season without noticing Christmas! Which is joyful if you enjoy it. However, Christmas can be a challenging time of year for many of us. Spending long periods of time with family (we are not all like the families in those glamorous adverts!). Dealing with memories, loss or feeling overwhelmed, can stir up strong emotions. All of this can contribute to the symptoms of S.A.D already described.
Thankfully it’s not all doom and gloom, there are many remedies and mechanisms that can help alleviate or dispel S.A.D. These can come in the form of: -
Light therapy, or getting outside during the morning daylight;
Talking therapies;
Prescribed medications;
Vitamin D supplements;
Generally taking care of yourself - Follow the link to an evidence-based model for this:
Some people absolutely love the onset of autumn and winter. They like to cosy up inside and concentrate on all the things they don’t get round to during the long, light summer days and nights. However, like anything, it’s all about balance.
Taking a brisk walk on a cold winter’s day is so uplifting. Especially when the sky is so blue and the sun, although not roasting, is still warm enough to make you work up a sweat. And the daylight throws such magical colours through the trees and the countryside.
Winter is also a good time to stock up on your vitamins, especially Vitamin D and you can eat hearty stews and homemade soups, full of veggies and natural goodness. The odd hot chocolate is also a lovely tonic on a cold day (especially with marshmallows and whipped cream!) and now that Christmas is approaching, the colours from the lights and the variety of decorations brightened the night sky – all you have to do is stop and appreciate them all.
S.A.D. is very real for a lot of people; if you recognise the symptoms in yourself or others, maybe you start to feel less enthused by life in general, and have an inkling to hide yourself away, you may be experiencing S.A.D. But it’s not something you have to put up with, there are treatments and support available for what can be a disabling condition.
For further information and support over winter and the festive season:
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