You
must have heard people complain of “winter blues” or feeling low, sad, and down
during the winter months. These are not just mood swings, there are phases of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) which
is basically depression that is brought on by the change in weather and the
onset of colder weather. This is a common occurring in the seniors as well as
middle aged individuals.
Signs may include:
- Feeling
depressed for most part of the day, nearly every day
- Loss
of interest in activities you once enjoyed
- Sleep
pattern changes
- Changes
in food habits, appetite, and weight
- Feeling
easily agitated
- Feeling
hopeless and frequently having negative thoughts
- Feeling
tired and having low energy
Reasons for SAD: There is no
specific cause for the “winter blues”, but it is partially due to the decrease
in the sunlight level which causes an imbalance in the body’s internal clock.
SAD
causes a drastic change in the mood and behavior of a person and here are some
tips to care for such a person:
- A
companion is the best partner. Winter itself sets in a feeling of loneliness,
and having a companion at that time who can just spend time talking, watching
TV, or even just sitting with you can be of a lot of help. If you stay alone,
getting a caregiver to come over for
a few hours every day can be helpful and help improve mood.
- Catching
a few hours of sunlight can help improve mind health. Spending time outdoors
during the early hours or completing your routine market runs in the morning
hours when the sun is the brightest can improve mood. If you cannot go out,
sitting indoors by a window which is letting some sunlight in can also help.
- Do
exercises for at least 30 minutes a day. This helps to keep the blood
circulating and joints moving well. If you cannot do the exercises by yourself,
getting a home physiotherapist to
assist and help workout is also a good idea.
Comments
Post a Comment