The fall and winter months can be a struggle for some people. Once the clocks turn back an hour, to Daylight Standard time, some will feel the effects of a lack of daylight, and they feel as though they are living primarily in darkness. This is called Seasonal Affective Disorder.
Spokesperson for the New Brunswick Branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association Kristen Barnes says there are some very common symptoms of SAD, “Some of the symptoms are lack of energy and lack of sleep, or you could be sleeping more than usual. You could also be losing or gaining weight and feeling depressed.”
One of the important things, Barnes adds, is that you shouldn’t feel ashamed, “You should seek help if needed. Even if you are starting to feel down and you’re just looking for a way to kind of lift yourself up or cope with some of the symptoms. You can reach out to a Counsellor, or going to a support group or reaching out to a family Doctor. Some people use light therapy or medication as well.”
Barnes says SAD is normally experienced during the fall and winter months, but there are some who also deal with it in the spring and summer as well..