FARGO, N.D. (Valley News Live) – As the daylights starts to get shorter and the temperature starts to drop it can play a part in our mood. Seasonal affective disorder, otherwise known as “SAD” can affect how a person feels, thinks, and behaves.
“You’re seeing symptoms of either depression or a pattern during a certain season, We either see it from fall to winter or you can see it from spring to summer as well,” said Sara Dukart, a Psychiatric mental health practitioner at Sanford Health.
Symptoms can include: Social withdrawal, decreased energy or fatigue, loss of interest in hobbies, feeling anxious, or hopelessness.
“Watching typical changes, sleep is a big one too, a lot of times people are wanting to sleep as soon as the sun goes down and that can happen at five o-clock and now we’re sleeping 12-14 hours,” said Dukart.
Dukart also says in the upper Midwest more people tend to struggle in the winter time due to the severe colder temperatures and longer days without sunlight. If people do start to see symptoms in themselves or people they know it is important to reach out to your medical provider to find appropriate treatment options.
“Medications, therapy, and then when it’s a seasonal affective disorder in that category then we do talk about artificial light,” said Dukart.
“We as a society have kind of been like oh that’s normal, it’s winter time, it’s dark, but notifying and telling ourselves maybe I am struggling a little bit more than I should be, we have the right to be happy and healthy all year long,” said Dukart.
If you or someone you know may be struggling with severe depression the suicide crisis hotline is 9-8-8 and is available 24/7.
