Winter Blues?

Written By: Daryl Lyons, CD-SV

Brought to you as part of the IDA Health & Wellness initiative. Check out Health & Wellness Resources.

If colder weather and shorter days cause you to feel the winter blues, you’re not alone. It’s not uncommon to experience fatigue, sadness, difficulty concentrating, and a disruption in your sleep schedule during the winter season. Especially being a Detailer. We're not a necessity, we're a luxury, meaning most clients spend their money on Christmas gifts and other items.

The good news? There are things you can do to beat the winter blues. Lots of people get depressed in winter, or suffer from the "winter blues". The medical name for this winter depression is seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

SAD is more common in northern than in southern parts of the United States, where winter days last longer. “In Florida, only about 1% of the population is likely to suffer from SAD. But in the northernmost parts of the U.S, about 10% of people in Alaska may be affected.”

As with other forms of depression, SAD can lead to a gloomy outlook and make people feel hopeless, worthless, and irritable. They may lose interest in activities they used to enjoy, such as hobbies and spending time with friends. “People with SAD tend to be withdrawn, have low energy, oversleep and put on weight. They might crave carbohydrates,” such as cakes, candies, and cookies. Without treatment, these symptoms generally last until the days start getting longer.

These “self-care” tips might help with seasonal depression. See a mental health professional if sadness doesn’t go away or interferes with your daily life:

• Go to a movie, take a walk, do other activities you normally enjoy.
• Get out in the sunlight or brightly lit spaces, especially early in the day.
• Try to spend time with other people and confide in a trusted friend or relative.
• Eat nutritious foods and avoid overloading on carbohydrates like cookies and candies.

Be patient. You won’t suddenly “snap out of” depression. Your mood will improve gradually.

Christmas is very overwhelming for some, setting boundaries is always a good thing. Christmas means we spend a lot more time with loved ones, family, and friends, eating, drinking, making memories. That sounds great in theory – but all that extra time spent together (often indoors) combined with the added pressure of trying to be happy while pleasing everyone else can be stressful. When you also consider that times such as Christmas can invoke the memories and influences of our youth – good and bad – it is not surprising that for many, the festive season can be particularly difficult to navigate.

But the solution is surprisingly simple. We need to look at our boundaries – those invisible rules which govern our behavior and relationships – to see if they are strong enough to support us through the holidays ahead while being flexible enough to allow us to ask for help when we need it.

Please don’t hesitate to talk to someone or ask for help. Happy Holidays to you and yours!