Seasonal Affective Disorder: Is it real or a figment of your imagination?
News Sep 23, 2024 Aliyah Marko-Omene
It’s officially fall and you may be noticing a shift in your mood.
Perhaps you are tired, irritable, or unmotivated.
You may even feel depressed.
More than one million Canadians experience Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) each year.
According to the Centre for Addictions and Mental Health (CAMH), Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression related to a specific season, but most common in the fall and winter.
SAD is often a result of shorter days and lack of daylight.
Madison Leclair, a registered nurse at Regina’s Pasqua Hospital, says many people are not aware they are experiencing symptoms of SAD.
“People tend to shrug off the symptoms not realizing it’s actually becoming a pattern for them every fall and winter season,” says Leclair.
“They need to pay attention to the changes in their mood and behaviours.”
Leclair says SAD can range in severity from more debilitating cases of depression to simply feeling the blues.
“For some people, they may feel tired, depressed, or they don’t want to leave the house, but, for others, it can get to the point where it starts to disrupt how they function in their day-to-day lives.”
Young people are most prone to developing SAD, more often found in women than men.
Haley Maull, a fourth-year Digital Communications student at Humber Polytechnic, says the change in seasons is very complicated for her both mentally and physically.
“I find myself struggling to maintain relationships and hobbies because everything feels like such a big task and I end up missing out on a lot,” says Maull.
“I just become very isolated and start cutting myself off from everyone.”
Maull says she uses school as a way to cope and stay social during the colder months.
“You have to go to class right? So I make sure to use that as a way to get my socialization for the day because I know I am not going out again,” says Maull.
“I also try to use the breaks in between classes to make plans with friends, like go get a coffee or something like that.”
Maull says it is important to prioritize self-care to cope during the Fall and Winter seasons.
“It can be just talking to someone about how you’re feeling, doing yoga in the morning, or even just listening to music for 10 minutes every day,” says Maull.
“I personally will take naps when I need to or do box breathing to help alleviate any stress or anxiety I have.”
If you are looking for ways to prioritize your mental health during the colder months, Humber College offers a number of resources for health and wellness.
You can learn more at Humber’s Student Wellness and Accessibility Centre located at the Welcome Centre on campus.