By Julie DeLong, A-1 Freeman Moving Group
As thrilling as moving to Colorado Springs is, at some point the moving high disappears and you return to ground with a great big thud. And when re-entry is over the winter season, it can cause seasonal depression--also called SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). Specially if your move has brought you a place where winter is a real thing--for instance if you have moved from Texas to Maine-you should be prepared for some seasonal anxiety symptoms and know how to deal with it till the spring thaw.If you remember anything about high school geography, the farther north you travel, the less daylight there will be in the fall and winter times. The brief days seem to go hand in hand with gloomy dull days, so that it seems like the sun rarely shines for weeks on end. Then just about all you wish to do is hibernate--stay home, snooze, binge watch movies online, and merely stay away from the human race. For those who have recently moved across the country and are in a new area, and you haven't essentially established a new schedule as yet, it's much easier to get caught in the grip of seasonal depression. Thus, here's how you possibly can treat it at home, or a couple of solutions a qualified professional could advise if you can't keep it at bay without any help.
One note--SAD is a real thing--the Mayo Clinic addresses it, and also the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) incorporates it. Should you feel the signs and symptoms of depression linked to winter season, get treatment in case you have had the signs and symptoms in the past.
Light Therapy
Phototherapy is the miraculous bullet for lots of people with SAD. It is a basic treatment which professionals think transforms your brain chemistry with half hour per day of exposure; You won't notice any serious unwanted side effects and it is a home remedy, so it's worth a chance. You will need a light box which produces a minimum of 10,000 lux (lux factors in the concentration of the light). Sit by the box--around 16 and 24 inches away from you--while you enjoy your morning cup of coffee, not looking head on at the light source but with your eyes open. Ensure the box is made just for SAD therapy, because it will remove Ultraviolet light.
Easy things--higher-watt light bulbs, opening window blinds during the day, and sitting by a window at your workplace, if possible--that bring you to extra light can have a noticeable benefit. Cut back all shrub branches that dangle across your home to let in additional natural light, and investigate installing skylights to let all the light you'll be able to to the residence.
Head Outside
Go for a walk, enjoy your lunch time outside--anything to soak up some weak winter season rays. Even a modest increase of Vitamin D is good for you and going out-of-doors for a short walk takes care of that along with getting your pulse up. Early morning sun--even on gloomy days--packs a bigger wallop compared to weak mid-day sunshine, so try to go outdoors to start your day.
Exercise is the default method for helping any variety of depression--it gets the endorphins running, which eases the signs and symptoms of anxiety. In the event that your new residence is in an area where cold weather sports activities are common, find a new hobby--snow boarding, ice skating, even ice fishing. Try to go outside and interact socially, even if it is simply enjoying lunch or having a cup of coffee with associates.
If your SAD continues once you have tried to keep it in check yourself, I highly recommend you seek a doctor's guidance. A psychologist or psychiatrist will perform a thorough assessment of your mental and physical wellness and determine whether your signs and symptoms are actually seasonal or the beginnings of a more persistent depressive disorder. One of the primary questions they will likely ask is if any additional family members are prone to SAD--it is thought to be hereditary. Remedies might be talk therapy, rest or meditating, or possibly a short-term prescription for antidepressants.
Do not forget that as wintertime gives way to spring, so will your SAD lessen as the days get a bit longer and warmer. Meanwhile, please get therapy for your SAD so you can have fun with your health in your new home after moving to Colorado Springs.
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