It’s that time of year. You start seeing Thanksgiving or (gasp!) Christmas decorations hitting the department stores near you. The weather is starting to get cooler and the trees are a beautiful array of colors. You can purchase a spiced pumpkin latte at your local coffee shop, and you start dressing your little ones in jackets and sweaters. The days are getting shorter and it gets darker earlier and earlier. The season is changing and so is your mood. You might feel more tired and sluggish or have difficulty sleeping and concentrating. You crave carbs and you want to hibernate at home. Does any of this sound familiar? You might have Seasonal Affective Disorder otherwise known as SAD. This can be amplified if you are also maintaining the home front through the long winter while your spouse is deployed. Click here for 20 ways to help you manage the homefront! You are not alone. SAD affects about half a million people in the United States. Just like many different types of depression, the symptoms of SAD can range from the mild type to the severe type that can be very debilitating. The symptoms of SAD can appear gradually or come on all at once. They often dissipate as spring arrives and stay in remission through the summer months. If you are experiencing these symptoms and they are interfering with your life, you may have more than just the simple “winter blues,” you could have SAD. Don’t ignore that yearly feeling as simply a seasonal funk that you have to tough out on your own. You don’t have to feel this way. And you DON’T have to put your life on hold. Check out tips for living your life here. Take steps to improve your mood through the long winter months. We have the symptoms and treatments you need.
