Combating Seasonal Affective Disorder with These 3 Tips
If you find yourself feeling low spirited, sad, or straight up depressed during winter, you’re not alone. Chances are, you struggle with seasonal affective disorder (SAD), which is a psychological condition that’s provoked by seasonal change.
So, what can you do to fight this seasonal disorder? Here are a few tips to follow.
Have Daily “Nature Sessions”
During the gloomy winter season, it’s more important than ever to get some sunshine during the day and connect with nature. Studies have shown that even taking short walks outdoor can improve your mood. In addition to that, it can also nourish your body and mind. To prevent the cold weather from taking a toll on your mental health, schedule short “nature sessions” every day to get the dose of sunshine and physical activity that you need.
If you’re unable to go out for a run or a walk, you can get your Vitamin D when drinking your morning coffee. Alternately, you can eat your lunch sitting next to a window allowing in natural light, or even outside if it isn’t too cold. It doesn’t matter how you connect with nature just as long as you do.
Stick to a Schedule
People struggling with seasonal affective disorder often have trouble adjusting to their new schedules and circumstances as the weather changes. They may have trouble sleeping or face a lack of appetite that results in them skipping meals. They may also be unable to participate in certain activities they’d usually occupy themselves with, which can further trigger their symptoms.
It’s imperative that you maintain a schedule during winter, even if all you feel like doing is curling up in bed. Having a schedule can help you combat seasonal affective disorder. It allows you to stay active and attentive physically as well as mentally, and has a positive impact on your mood.
Get Mental Health Therapy
If you think things are getting more difficult to manage with each passing day, then don’t hold off on consulting a mental health counselor. While there are a number of strategies you can adopt yourself to alleviate the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder, professional counseling tends to be far more effective. If the usual bunch of “hacks” don’t seem to be having much of an effect on how you’re feeling, it’s time to visit a therapist who can guide you better.
Comprehensive Counseling Services, LLC is your solution. The counseling practice offers mental health counseling Winder and is extremely effective against feelings of depression, anxiety, and hopelessness one experiences with seasonal affective disorder.
Learn more about our services here.
