SAD Season is Upon Us: Seasonal Affective Disorder/Seasonal Depression

other major depressive disorders, live in cloudy regions, or live in areas far north or south of the equator.

Most Common Symptoms

*A person with seasonal depression may not experience all of these symptoms

1. Oversleeping
2. Overeating, specifically carbs and sweets
3. Weight gain
4. Social withdrawal, loss of interest in pleasurable activities
5. Lethargy
6. Trouble concentrating
7. Mood changes
8. Depression
9. Anxiety

Treatment

1. Exposure to sunlight. When the sun is out, GO OUTSIDE.
2. Light therapy
3. Talk therapy
4. Antidepressant medication
5. Vitamin D

RELATED: Feeling SAD? 5 Ways to Combat Seasonal Depression

Tidbit

A clean, whole-food diet and exercise are always helpful in improving your mood and overall health. This is also the best time to increase your intake of foods that support your immune system (it’s flu season and COVID is still in the air).

Closing

Now that we got all that information, we are all better prepared for the fall and winter. As a person with seasonal depression living in the Midwest (baby I’m from the south, please come get me), I know how hard these months can be. But remember, you are not alone, you are not crazy, and you are loved even when you don’t love yourself!

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I know it’s going to get colder and darker outside, and we have a deep love affair with the bed/couch, but we’re not gonna isolate and succumb to sadness. We’re gonna get through this together, we have each other, our self-preservation/care routines, our journal, and our community. Remember you know your body better than anyone, so protect it, and always advocate for yourself. Please be sure to consult with a licensed medical professional and licensed mental health professional for more information, a diagnosis, or treatment.

Be on the lookout for more articles from “SPEAK UP!” interns. If you are or know of any currently enrolled HBCU women/students interested in advocating for health and wellness amongst your HBCU peers please visit Save a Girl, Save a World (SAGSAW) for more information.

Aravia Patterson, MPH, is a 26-year-old intern with SAGSAW/SPEAK Up! She is currently a Ph.D. Student at the University of Louisville studying Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences.