This time of year we find the onset of the horrible condition of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) which is something that occurs when your body doesn’t cope very well with the changes of the season, the shorter days, the darkness, the cold. I don’t suffer from SAD but I do know people who do and it’s not nice to see. Some symptoms of SAD are:
- Fatigue
- difficulty in concentrating
- changes in appetite
- difficulty in sleeping
- sleeping too much
- increase in physical aches and pains
- more headaches or migraines
- feeling irritable
- low mood
- thoughts of self harm or suicide
- feelings of despair
- feeling worthless
- becoming less sociable
There are probably more, I’m not an expert. Some of the symptoms overlap or contradict each other so it makes it difficult to diagnose. But there are things you can do, first you need to speak to your GP and maybe have a blood test just to make sure there are no physical problems present. (My daughter, Star, has a lot of these symptoms due to a lack of Vitamin B12)
Treatments for SAD
Light therapy is affective for some, you can buy special lamps that make your body feel as though it’s getting more daylight. Getting out and about in daylight is also helpful, just wrap up if it’s cold and get out while it’s light if you can. If you spend a lot of time indoors then sit by a window to get as much light as possible.
If you are really depressed, your GP might suggest anti-depressants or therapy such as CBT.
Eating a healthy, balanced diet might help.
Talk about your feelings or write them down. Journaling is good for this.
Spend some time for yourself, do something you enjoy.
Basically, most of the things you try for general low moods can work for Seasonal Affective Disorder.
No One Knows
No one knows the pain behind the smile
No one knows the hurt you feel inside
No one knows the secrets that you hide
No one knows but youNo one understands what you have to deal with
No one understands the things that hold you down
No one understands the meet ups you have to cancel
No one understands but youNo one wants to hear about your woes
No one wants to see you crying
No one wants to listen to the problems that you have
No one wants to be youNo one knows
No one understands
No one wants to
No one but youAnd you do!
By Anne Sweet
A little poem I wrote while I was feeling down. Remember, no one will know how you feel unless you share.
This is my post for the 14th Day of October.
Day one Welcome to Blogtober 2024
Day two Living to Die and Dying to Live
Day Three Autumn Traditions Around the World
Day Four Blogtober is my Word of the Week
Day Five Books that Feel Like October Reads
Day Eight My Etsy Autumn Picks
You have made some good suggestions. I wish just getting some sunlight would solve the sadness we are all feeling over here…
Lisa, we are all feeling the sadness of what is happening in your Country and those surrounding. I hope there is some solution soon x
I usually feel more down in January when all the excitement of Christmas is over with. It really isn’t nice to suffer from SAD. x
It does tend to happen later than October, My daughter suffers real bad from November to January, and she often has to lose a lot of time from work because she can’t do anything. It makes Christmas quite miserable, but it’s a sad time of year for us anyway, we try hard to make it good, but over the years (and it’s been many now) we work through it in our own way. Last year was good because my two daughter’s took over cooking Christmas dinner which gave them a focus and me a break. x
Anne, I love that you shared that poem. You are right; no one will know unless we share. This post was very informative, and I’m glad you shared it.
Thank you Steph. I haven’t written any poems in a while, I feel a little more inspired now.