For many of us, December is the peak of seasonal affective disorder (SAD), more commonly known as “seasonal depression.” Seasonal depression is a condition where a lack of natural sunlight, holiday stress, trauma, isolation, and other mental health issues cause depression that tends to get worse in late fall, and continue until the weather gets warmer.
For those with untreated seasonal depression, the development of symptoms is as reliable as… well… the seasons. It is not uncommon to expect seasonal depression to occur around the same time every year, cause similar symptoms, and hopefully feel better once spring comes around.
It is because seasonal depression tends to go away in spring that many people avoid psychotherapy. Even though there are many very, very effective treatments for seasonal depression, the idea that it’s only temporary and that someone’s aware of what the symptoms will be can lead people to feel like they can ignore it and it will get better.
But there’s three problems with this:
- First – although not a topic covered in this particular blog post – seasonal depression does not always go away. The feelings and stress associated with SAD can be so severe that they continue onward and affect a person’s mental health in the future.
- Second – and this is a topic that we are also not covering in this blog post – seasonal depression is treatable, and seeking our psychotherapy now can be a great way to help manage seasonal depression in the future and take back control over your winters.
- Third, and the focus of our blog post today, is that even if you’ve had manageable seasonal depression in the past, there is no guarantee it will be manageable in the future. Sometimes, life events can make seasonal depression feel worse.
Many of us are experiencing this right now. Not specifically because of who they voted for, but because the election this past November was stressful for many people.
It also coincided with the onset of seasonal depression.
Imagine a situation in which you are stressed and anxious in the days leading up to the election, right as your traditional seasonal depression begins. The results of the election, in this case, are unimportant. You’re already under significant stress, affecting your mind and body, and suddenly you’re now faced with the onset of your seasonal affective disorder.
Perhaps not surprisingly, the result is that now you’re at greater risk for more severe seasonal depression symptoms. Even though the election is now over, the SAD is still here, and that means that your symptoms may be worse or less manageable than they were in the past.
While not everyone experienced election related stress, there are other issues that can affect the severity of your seasonal depression. Inflation has put strain on everyone’s finances, so you may be more stressed over your money issues right while your seasonal depression is starting. Or perhaps you’ve been sick this year – as so many of us have – and that has lead to worsening stress.
These are all reasons that seasonal depression should be treated, even if you’ve found it manageable in the past. There’s no guarantee that it will be manageable now, or in the future, because stressful situations occur, and that stress can lead to a worsening of symptoms.
If you need help with seasonal depression this year, please reach out to Long Island Counseling Services today. We’re happy to go into greater detail about seasonal depression or talk to you about your stresses and needs.