As we’re moving towards longer nights and shorter days its fast becoming prime seasonal affective disorder (SAD) season. What is SAD, you may ask. Have you ever noticed yourself feeling low energy, sluggish and in a bad mood specifically during winter months but as soon as spring comes you feel like you’re on top of the world? Well you may get SAD. SAD is a disorder which many suffer from which causes depressive symptoms over the winter months. A worsened mood and reduced sunlight can cause more than just mental health problems. Your mood has a big effect on how you process pain so having a depressive episode can actually worsen your real pain (APA 2023). On top of this, reduced sunlight means you won’t be synthesizing as much vitamin D which can lead to tiredness, generalised aching and a lack of feeling of wellness (Tidy, 2023).
This is why it’s important to know the ways in which we can help counteract these problems and improve our moods in the coming months. There are a couple of cheap and effective ways to do this. One method would be to take outdoor breaks during the day in which you get outside for a bit and try and soak up as much sunlight possible by going on a short walk. This will improve the amount of vitamin D you get throughout the day as well as giving you a bit of variety in your position and taking a break from the desk. Any small amount of exercise outside can be a great boost to your mood. As well as this, vitamin D supplements can be a great way to make sure you’re getting the recommended dose and keeping your immune system in good shape. Before taking any vitamin D supplements we recommend talking to your GP first and asking them about your personal dosage and the risks and benefits. Other ways of dealing with SAD include using light therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy and antidepressants. We would recommend talking to your GP about the risks and benefits of these treatments prior.
References:
American Psychiatric Association, 2020. Chronic Pain and Mental Health often Interconnected. Washington: American Psychiatric Association. Available from https://www.psychiatry.org/news-room/apa-blogs/chronic-pain-and-mental-health-interconnected#:~:text=An%20estimated%2035%25%20to%2045,with%20chronic%20pain%20experience%20depression.&text=Pain%20can%20also%20be%20a,Association%20of%20America%20(ADAA [Accessed 18.10.2023]
Tidy, C., 2023. Vitamin D Deficiency. Leeds. Egton Medical Information Systems Limited. Available from: Vitamin D Deficiency: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment | Patient [Accessed 18.10.2023)