Everyone feels a little more down when the weather is shitty outside. We’re human beings. We like sunshine. It’s natural to feel “just blah” when it’s a gross day outside, but for some people, it’s not that simple. I am one of those people.
About a year ago, my therapist brought up a condition known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) in one of our sessions. She asked me if I had ever been diagnosed with it. Seasonal Affective Disorder is a type of depression that is related to changes in seasons. For most people with SAD, symptoms begin to manifest in the fall, and continue throughout the winter months.
I have always showed signs of Seasonal Affective Disorder, but I never had a name for it. It was always just brushed off as “winter blues” or “having an off day.” While those things can also be true, it’s important to be able to spot the difference. Some symptoms of SAD include:
- Oversleeping, or not being able to get out of bed
- Changes to your appetite
- Weight gain
- Tiredness or low energy
- Changes to your overall mood
For me, the winter months are the hardest. It’s dark and cold outside, and I would much rather stay wrapped up in my warm bed. But I’ve found that I have to get outside, even if it’s just for 20 minutes. Being outside in the daylight, even on a cloudy day, can drastically improve my mood. When you have light-blocking curtains like we do, you might not even realize how badly you need the sun.
Recently, the weather has been all over the place. It’s 75 degrees one day, and then the next day is rainy and dark outside. It can be hard to control your mood when you have no control over the weather outside. But there are things that can help. My therapist usually gives me the “homework” to get outside everyday during the day, even if it’s just to sit on my front steps. It’s been a pleasant surprise to see how much this can actually shift my mood the slightest bit. A dreary, “blah” day suddenly becomes an okay day, just because I took a walk outside.
Another option is light therapy. I haven’t tried this one for myself, but I’ve heard great things. I might have to give it a try. Light therapy, or phototherapy, comes from using a light therapy box to create exposure to artificial light. This has been proven as an effective way to treat Seasonal Affective Disorder.
No matter what you decide to try, take control of it and OWN IT. We may not be able to control the weather outside, but we can control how we approach each new day. Mental illness does not define you, no matter what you’ve been taught to believe. You’ve got this, and we can do it together!
