2 minute read
if you’ve been feeling down or depressed lately, you’re definitely not alone. it’s common during this time of year, when the days are shorter, there’s less sunlight and the weather is cold and grey. in fact, seasonal depression, also known as seasonal affective disorder (sad), makes up about 10 per cent of cases of depression in canada .
the signs of sad are essentially the same as major depression, according to toronto’s center for addiction and mental health (camh), and is usually characterized by a sad mood that is present most days of the week and last most of the day, lasts more than two weeks, and negatively affects work or school performance and relationships. and while these are most common sad symptoms, camh also includes changes in appetite, sleep problems, loss of interest in work or hobbies, a feeling of hopelessness, among others.
advertisement
“there’s a lot of anticipatory anxiety,” luana marques, an associate professor of psychiatry at harvard medical school told time in a recent interview . “what is [this winter] going to look like?”
certainly, there’s no question that canadians are experiencing more challenges with mental health than ever before: according to statcan , “one in four (25 per cent) canadians aged 18 and older screened positive for symptoms of depression, anxiety or posttraumatic stress disorder (ptsd) in the spring of 2021, up from one in five (21 per cent) in fall 2020.”
one major symptom of not only sad — but of life in a pandemic — are feelings of isolation. human interaction is crucial to our physical and mental health — it’s vital that we remain in contact with friends and family in any way possible, whether that be by phone, video or walks.
advertisement
for sad specifically, light therapy can be very helpful as some experts believe sad is tied to a decrease in vitamin d. light therapy involves purchasing a device called a light box that sits next to you while you work or sit down. the box gives off bright light to mimic natural outdoor light.
