Friday, November 9, 2012

Seasonal Affected Disorder - Do you get the winter blues?

Every fall I dread the time change. There is so much less sunshine in Ontario as we move from October to November I find myself trying not to slide down the slope towards depression. Seasonal Affective Disorder is something I have struggled with much of my adult life. Often called the winter blues, seasonal depression, or SAD it affects women more than men and is a common form of depression in Canada. 

When I stopped having a flexible schedule (ie. after university) and started to work full-time I noticed a real pattern to my life. Spending all that time indoors at a desk job I noticed each fall I would gain weight, lack energy, and just seemed to lose my 'mojo'. After seeing my doctor to rule out other issues it was decided I was experiencing Seasonal Affective Disorder.  

This year has been worse than most for me. In early October I had unexpected surgery when my appendix ruptured (another blog post altogether!) . After running and being active all spring and summer I was knocked flat from this surprise health complication. It's taken me a month but I am finally feeling my energy return. To try to get through everything, I have been using my SAD light, and trying to spend lots of time outdoors with my kids. 

My new momstown Mississauga family has helped enormously, bringing meals when I was sick, and understanding when our October schedule had to change while I was recovering. 
My fellow momstown entrepreneurs have also helped by providing support and   encouragement both personally, and from the business side . 

I usually feel better once the days start to get longer in late January so I'm hanging on for the holidays with my family knowing the sunshine and light will be back in my heart in a matter of weeks. 


Think you or someone you know might be affected? Here are the signs to watch for: 
  • feelings of hopelessness or feeling overwhelmed
  • trouble concentrating, completing tasks
  • increased desire for sleep
  • lack of energy
  • increased appetite
  • weight gain

Where to get help: 




Example of SAD Light Therapy - that's not me my desk is too messy! 

6 comments:

  1. Hi Sarah,

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    I loved reading through your blog and think you have done a fantastic job in covering topics that would be interesting to their readers. Your blog showcases a personal perspective on being a parent while offering solid advice on child development.

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    P.S. SAD happens to a lot of people. Thank you for talking about it.

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