Steps to combat Seasonal Affective Disorder for Mental Health Mondays

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KEVN) - Mental Health Mondays tackles seasonal depression this week.

Winter can be a wonderful time for many people but for some, it can be very challenging to deal with the mood swings that come with seasonal depression. Seasonal Affective Disorder, also known as SAD, is a type of depression that affects people in the winter months. Some may call it “winter blues” and it can be quite impactful to people daily if not treated properly.

Lisa Kautzman MSN, CNP, QMHP, and director of Pivot Point, says so many people are afflicted because the days are shorter as we approach winter and we are in darkness longer. Kautzman says the start of winter time can be quite debilitating to a person’s mental health where it can affect your mood, sleep, and behavior.

In addition, the lack of light is also thought to have a negative impact on our body’s ability to maintain normal levels of certain hormones.

Kautzman suggests you spend at least a few hours outside getting sun when you can and let it synergize the skin to produce vitamin D. Kautzman says during the winter you might see people sleep more and eat more and they tend to sleep and hibernate more. She says to recognize your mood and do something about it and says to go outside and let the sun energize the skin because that will directly affect your mood. She also suggests getting in a nice walk or doing some exercising and just getting active. She also says if you feel you need more help then don’t hesitate to call Pivot Point Crisis Center or West River Mental Health for further help.

Please watch the video above to hear the full interview.

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