It may be light out a little bit later now, but we’re still in the last leg of winter (thanks for nothing, Punxsutawney Phil). The frozen season often comes with a series of mood changes — but how do we know if what we’re feeling is just the blues or something more serious?
Approximately 10 million people in the United States are affected by seasonal affective disorder, a depression-related condition that generally occurs in the winter months (though, not always). In most cases, symptoms usually appear in the late fall and last until around the first week of April. SAD is prevalent among individuals who live in the northern states where it gets cloudier and colder. Women are also more susceptible to SAD than men.
Everyone has bouts of the winter blahs — who wouldn’t, after being confined to the indoors for most of the week? But the key is the frequency of your mood swings. If your sour disposition is persistent, it might be time to check in with a physician.
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Need help? In the U.S., call 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
