S.A.D: Seasonal affective disorder
“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.”
― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables
I love hearing the Sandhill Cranes as they migrate overhead high in the autumn skies. The Sandhill Crane’s call is a loud, rolling, trumpeting sound. For me that is the sound of longing, as those amazing birds answer that innate ‘call’, and fly long distance on their migration journey.
I love Autumn, it is a time of change; shedding, closing, going inward, ending, preparing for the winter and the end of the year, it is also such a beautiful and special time to slow down and reflect.
“Fall has always been my favorite season. The time when everything bursts with its last beauty, as if nature had been saving up all year for the grand finale.”
― Lauren DeStefano, Wither
In the Jewish traditions, fall is a time of beginning and renewal, that is when the Jewish New Year, ‘Rosh Hshannah’ is celebrated. Autumn is when you harvest the field and prepare for winter. Yom Kippur, is also part of the high holidays of Autumn, Yom Kippur is the day of Atonement and it is about pardon and forgiveness. It is a tradition to go to the river and throw away ‘the old’, and invite the new for the New Year. Another tradition of the New Year is to eat an apple with honey to invite the new year to be as sweet as honey…
“You expected to be sad in the fall. Part of you died each year when the leaves fell from the trees and their branches were bare against the wind and the cold, wintery light…”
― Ernest Hemingway, A Moveable Feast
I often talk to my clients around this time of year about a certain kind of sadness that starts to show up in Autumn. According to the Mayo Clinic ‘Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that’s related to changes in seasons — SAD begins and ends at about the same times every year. If you’re like most people with SAD, your symptoms start in the fall and continue into the winter months, making you feel sad and moody. Less often, SAD causes depression in the spring or early summer.’
It is important to not overlook S.A.D., as it can be debilitating and cause worrisome symptoms. Don’t brush off that yearly feeling as simply a case of the “winter blues” or a seasonal funk that you have to tough out on your own. Take steps to keep your mood and motivation steady throughout the year. Treatment for SAD may include light therapy (phototherapy), psychotherapy and medications.
According to a Psychology Today article, The cause for SAD is unknown. One theory is that it is related to the amount of melatonin in the body, a hormone secreted by the pineal gland. Darkness increases the body’s production of melatonin, which regulates sleep. As the winter days get shorter and darker, melatonin production in the body increases and people tend to feel sleepier and more lethargic.
Besides ‘Light Therapy’, Self-Care to deal with SAD may include:
- Monitor your mood and energy level
- Take advantage of available sunlight
- Plan pleasurable activities for the winter season
- Plan physical activities
- Approach the winter season with a positive attitude
- When symptoms develop seek help sooner rather than later
- Do not overlook S.A.D, it can be more serious if not treated.
For those reading my blog for the first time, I am happy to announce that our October 14-15 Hold Me Tight® Couples Workshop is Sold-Out!
Please SIGN UP to our waiting list, by filling out the registration form, or get on our mailing list to get notified about our next workshop and also to receive my blog and newsletter FULL with helpful information about life, connections, relationship, parenting, attachment, and so much more!
At our Hold Me Tight® Couples Weekend Workshop, in an effective, safe, supportive, and validating environment; we hold space for couple to explore their relationship. Most importantly, the weekend is positive, proactive and FUN! The tools you learn will continue to serve your relationship long after this weekend.
At our Hold Me Tight® relationship enhancement Workshop you will learn and experience how to:
• address negative cycle patterns, and learn why they show up, and how to get out of them
• learn how to repair and forgive injuries, and become vulnerable with each other
• enhance your emotional, physical, and sexual closeness and INTIMACY
I’m delighted to announce that Fiachra Figs O’Sullivan will be joining me for my next Hold Me Tight® Couples Workshop in Nevada City, CA on October 14-15, 2017.
Husband, dad, wounded-healer and reformed Biz Dev guy, Figs (as heard on NPR’s All Things Considered) is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, certified in EFT. He’s passionate about helping couples feel more connected. Learn more about Figs’ counseling and coaching practice by visiting TherapyWithFigs.com
This is a great opportunity to have a deeper and vulnerable look at your relationship, develop new skills to recognize the cycle and patterns that inflict the relationship and keep you separated and apart, and It is also a beautiful time to connect and highlight the strengths of your relationship, and built on the positive that already exist.
- Please do not hesitate to call me with any questions or for more information. Looking forward to sharing the workshop with you.
- To sign up please click here.
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