{"id":12106,"date":"2021-12-06T21:10:22","date_gmt":"2021-12-07T05:10:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adhdonline2020.wpengine.com\/?p=12106"},"modified":"2024-06-05T21:13:15","modified_gmt":"2024-06-06T01:13:15","slug":"seasonal-affective-disorder","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adhdonline.com\/articles\/seasonal-affective-disorder\/","title":{"rendered":"Seasonal Affective Disorder &#8211; What Is It &amp; How Can We Navigate the Changing Seasons?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>As we transition from fall into winter, our bodies\u2019 often react to seasonal changes, affecting the way we live our lives. Seasonal Affective Disorder is a mood disorder, most commonly known as seasonal depression, that is triggered by a change in climate or seasons at the same time each year.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSeasonal Affective Disorder can be detrimental to our daily routine,\u201d said Dr. Raafia Muhammad, Clinical Division Chief at ADHD Online. \u201cIt can affect how we sleep, how we eat, and even how we interact with one another. People across the country \u2013 not just those in the four-season states \u2013experience one or more of seasonal affective disorder\u2019s many symptoms, including <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"https:\/\/adhdonline.com\/anxiety\/\"   title=\"anxiety\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\">anxiety<\/a>, agitation, weight loss, and gain, depression, fatigue, social withdrawal, hopelessness, and lack of energy. The sooner you recognize the symptoms, the quicker you will be able to seek treatment or find ways to adjust to the changing seasons.\u201d&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are some tips to get through this season:&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>First, it\u2019s important to recognize that everyone feels down at some point, and that is completely okay. It\u2019s normal. But, when you start to feel like you can\u2019t find a silver lining anywhere, and the usual activities that used to make you happy on your bad days are now filling you with hopelessness and guilt, it\u2019s time to seek a doctor. \u201cWe know that everyone will have off days, but when your thoughts start to turn dark, and you are contemplating self-harm, it\u2019s time to get help,\u201d said Dr. Muhammad.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Commit to your best form of self-care. This can be done through a workout, like running, lifting weights, or even dancing. Then, treat yourself to an at-home spa day filled with face masks and bubbles. Of course, you could even go to the real spa, too! Whichever way you prefer to care for yourself, go for it!&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Soak up the sun when you can. Even with the cold temps, if the sun is shining during the day, take a brisk walk through your neighborhood, or go to a local park. Connecting with nature for a few minutes each day can drastically change your mood.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Eat consistently. Even when you don\u2019t feel like doing anything, the number one thing you should still prioritize is eating consistent, healthy meals. \u201cIt\u2019s easy to overindulge when you\u2019re feeling down, and it\u2019s okay to treat yourself, but one of the best ways to combat seasonal <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"https:\/\/adhdonline.com\/depression\/\"   title=\"depression\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\">depression<\/a> is by trying as best as you can to stick with a routine. Eat three meals a day that are filled with nutrients to fuel your body,\u201d said Dr. Muhammad.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Take it one day at a time. Each day will feel different, some better than others and vice versa. Though you may experience symptoms of guilt and a lack of motivation, it\u2019s important to remember that it\u2019s just one day, and tomorrow, you can decide to change it. So go easy and give yourself grace.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Seasonal Affective Disorder can be challenging, but listening to your body and what it needs is all that it will take to make some days a little bit brighter.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Combat Seasonal Affective Disorder with expert tips from Dr. Raafia Muhammad. Learn how to manage symptoms, prioritize self-care, and embrace brighter days.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":21006,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[78],"tags":[162,86,95,90],"content_type":[39],"class_list":["post-12106","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles","tag-depression","tag-physical-mental-health","tag-seasonal-affective-disorder","tag-tools-tips","content_type-article"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adhdonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12106","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adhdonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adhdonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adhdonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adhdonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12106"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/adhdonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12106\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adhdonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21006"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adhdonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12106"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adhdonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12106"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adhdonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12106"},{"taxonomy":"content_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adhdonline.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/content_type?post=12106"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}