Are you feeling more tired these days or is your energy lacking? Do you have difficulty concentrating? Do you crave sweets and starchy foods? Have you gained weight? Are you feeling more irritable, angry and hopeless?
If you’ve answered “yes” to these questions, you might be suffering from seasonal affective disorder (SAD), explains Renée Ouimet, program manager of the public education division of the Ottawa branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA).
What exactly does this mean? SAD (or seasonal depression) “is in fact a type of depression that depends on time and the seasons,” notes a guide published by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). “The symptoms appear usually during fall and winter and the affected person feels better in spring and summer.”
In a workshop held on campus by Ouimet on this topic, she emphasized that 2 to 3 per cent of the population is prone to suffering from SAD. According to recent studies, this affliction is more common in women than men and occurs more frequently in northern countries where winter days are shorter. In fact, up to 15 per cent of the population could be affected by the “winter blues.”
Since the lack of daylight seems to play a role in causing SAD, a possible solution is to expose yourself to light as much as possible. Light therapy provides one of the most effective treatments, where for half an hour every day you expose yourself to a special kind of light. According to the CAMH guide, this technique spells relief for 65 per cent of people affected by a seasonal disorder.
However, there are other simple ways of coping with SAD, emphasizes Ouimet. She recommends performing your various activities near a window, going for regular walks or exercising outdoors and monitoring your diet and sleep patterns. “If you can afford it, take a vacation down South,” she suggests.
If the symptoms become worse, don’t be afraid to consult professionals who may be able to prescribe medications and other treatments, if need be. Ouimet reminds us that “mental illnesses are the same as other illnesses” and that it is a myth that they are somehow caused by a weak character.
Related Links:
Canadian Mental Health Association
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Signs and symptoms of depression
General
Sadness/depressed mood
Irritability
Changes in weight/appetite
Guilt, hopelessness or worthlessness
Inability to concentrate, memory loss or make decisions
Fatigue/loss of energy
Loss of interest in sex and activities once enjoyed
Sleep disturbances
Restlessness or decreased activity
Physical aches and pains with no medical cause
Thoughts of suicide or death
In the workplace
Difficulty in making decisions
Decreased productivity
Irritability/hostility
Withdrawal from or extreme dependency on others
Slowness of speech, extreme fatigue
Flat or blank expression
Inability to concentrate
Errors, injuries
Tardiness, absenteeism
Lack of enthusiasm
Reduced self-esteem
How to help someone suffering from depression
Actively listen and support
Let them know that it is okay to talk about their feelings and thoughts
Let them know you care
Ask them how you can help
Offer to contact their family doctor or a mental health professional
Try to encourage small steps in recovery
Find out about local self-help groups and attend a meeting with them
Try to be patient and non-judgmental
Challenge your own misconceptions
Spend some time looking into the basics of mental health and mental illness
Try not to feel responsible or guilty about the person’s depression
Take care of yourself
Don’t do it alone
How to help a colleague showing signs of depression
Offer encouragement and support
Maintain the same relationship
Do not try to diagnose the problem
Respect the person and let him or her know how valuable he or she is to co-workers
Encourage the person to seek help or treatment
Take their talking about suicide seriously
(Source : Canadian Mental Health Association).
