It’s normal to have some days when you feel down.
By Alison Crane
While the winter holidays are often the most wonderful time of the year for many people, for others, winter is a SAD time. According to the National Institute of Health Fact Sheet, the acronym SAD stands for Seasonal Affective Disorder.
People who experience Winter pattern Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD may start to feel “down” when the days get shorter in the fall and winter (also called “winter blues”) and begin to feel better in the spring, with longer daylight hours.
Symptoms may include:
- Oversleeping (hypersomnia)
- Weight gain
- Overeating, particularly with a craving for carbohydrates
- Social withdrawal (feeling like “hibernating”)
According to the Mayo Clinic website, it’s normal to have some days when you feel down. But if you feel down for days at a time and you can’t get motivated to do activities you normally enjoy, see your healthcare provider. This is especially important if your sleep patterns and appetite have changed, you turn to alcohol for comfort or relaxation, or you feel hopeless or think about suicide.
The National Institute of Mental Health has a useful pdf on Seasonal Affective Disorder that explains symptoms and treatments in greater detail. The holidays and the winter season can be challenging, for stress management classes and resources, contact the Garland County Extension Service at 501-623-6841 or email acrane@uada.edu.
Alison Crane is a Family and Consumer Science Agent with the Garland County Extension Service. The Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, marital or veteran status, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
