Daylight Savings Time & Seasonal Affective Disorder

IMPORTANT: if you are feeling suicidal, please reach out to a friend, family member, your doctor, call the hotline: 800-273-8255. This article does NOT REPLACE professional help, this article is only informative.

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It is estimated that 10 million people in America are affected with Seasonal Affective Disorder, 10 million! If you don't know, seasonal affective disorder is when people find themselves having depression, becoming lethargic with no interest in things that use to bring them pleasure, trouble sleeping, issues with weight, difficulty concentrating and thoughts of death and suicide because of the lack of light. 

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Daylight savings time kicks off that part of the year (winter) when it gets dark around 4:45 p.m. on average from an average of 9 p.m. when we are not on daylight savings time. 

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During this time, if your seasonal affective disorder is mild, you can do a few things at home to try and offset this really horrible disorder. First, in the mornings (it gets light an hour earlier) go for a walk and soak up the sun and fresh air. At lunch try and eat either outside or by a window if possible and mid afternoon before the sun starts to set, try to take a break and again head outside. When you are at home, try purchasing a lamp that mimics the sun. My family has members that suffers from this disorder and the lamp does offer a little relief in the evening hours.

I will put the link to the one I have researched and plan on purchasing here

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This disorder is difficult and when it is piled on top of other depression it makes it even worse. So please, if you suffer from this and other depressive episodes, talk with someone close to you or a professional, it is for you!

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