By Louis Dvorkin, Ph.D. Clinical Psychologist
Are you SAD about Daylight Saving Time?
The turning back of the clocks for Day Light Saving Time (don’t forget, it’s this Sunday morning officially at 2 am) is a key reminder that colder weather and shorter days (as in less daylight!) are on the way.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Now, as we head into the winter months have you become suddenly unhappy without apparent or clear external changes in your life circumstances? If so, it would be a good time to speak with a mental health professional whether SAD might be the culprit undermining the quality of your life.
What are SAD’s most common symptoms?
***Change in Energy Levels
***Tendency to Overeat
***behavioral issues
***Feelings of Guilt and Worry
***Change in Sleep Patterns
***Problems with the Ability to Attend and Concentrate
More detailed information about SAD and its treatment can be obtained from trusted websites, including this SAD Fact Sheet from the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI).
One therapy that has received much press is Light Therapy. However, before diving in, please educate yourself and speak with a knowledgeable mental health professional. An interesting article can be accessed on-line from the Center for Environmental Therapeutics, which discusses the benefits of Bright Light Therapy for SAD and some sleep disorders.
