By Julie DeLong, A-1 Freeman Moving Group
As thrilling as moving to Denver has been, at some point the moving high fades away and you come back to earth with a great big thud. When re-entry is during the winter time, it can lead to seasonal depression--also termed SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). Particularly if your move has taken you somewhere where winter season is actually a thing--for instance if you have relocated from Arizona to Oregon-you should be ready for some seasonal anxious feelings and learn how to deal with it till the spring thaw.If you recall anything at all with regards to high school geography, the more north you travel, the less sunshine there is during the winter and fall seasons. The short days seem to come together with gloomy dull days, so that it seems like the sun never shines for several weeks at a stretch. Then just about all you want to do is hibernate--stay home, sleep, binge watch TV shows, and just steer clear of the world. If you have recently moved across the country and are in a new location, and you haven't essentially settled into a new routine still, it's quicker to fall into the clutches of seasonal depressive disorder. So, here is how it is possible to address it from your own home, or some solutions a qualified professional might recommend if you cannot keep it from escalating by yourself.
One thing--SAD is a real thing--the Mayo Clinic treats it, as well as the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) contains it. Should you feel the signs and symptoms of depression linked to winter months, seek therapy if you have had the symptoms before.
Light Treatments
Phototherapy is the miraculous bullet for many people with SAD. It's a uncomplicated procedure which researchers think changes your brain balance with 30 minutes a day of exposure; There are no real adverse effects and it is a home treatment, so it's worth a consideration. You'll need a light box which produces at least 10,000 lux (lux factors in the intensity of the light). Relax by the box--around 16 to 24 inches away--while you enjoy your morning drink, not gazing exactly at the light but with your eyes open. Make certain the light box is made just for SAD treatment, as it will filter Ultraviolet light.
Straightforward things--higher-watt lights, opening shades during the day, and sitting by a window where you work, if possible--that expose you to more light will have a notable benefit. Cut back all tree branches that hang over your house to allow in additional light, and explore putting in skylights to let all the sun you can into the home.
Get Out-of-doors
Go for a walk, enjoy your lunch time outside--anything to absorb a few weak winter season rays. Even just a little increase of Vitamin D is wonderful for you and going outdoors for a short stroll takes care of that along with getting your pulse up. Early morning sun--even on cloudy days--packs more of a wallop compared to weak afternoon light, so try to head out to start off your day.
Exercise is the standard protocol for helping any variety of depression--it gets the endorphins flowing, which often relieves the symptoms of anxiety. If your new residence is located in an area where cold weather sports activities are prominent, take up a new hobby--snow boarding, ice skating, maybe ice fishing. Try to go outside and connect with others, even if it is simply having supper or having a cup of coffee with colleagues.
Should your SAD lasts after you've tried to deal with it yourself, please get a physician's help. A psychologist or psychiatrist will perform an in depth assessment of your mental and physical health and evaluate whether your symptoms are truly seasonal or perhaps the start of a more persistent depressive disorder. One of the primary questions they'll ask is if any additional family members are subject to SAD--it is assumed to be hereditary. Treatments might be talk therapy, relaxation or meditating, or even a short-term prescription for antidepressants.
Keep in mind that as the winter season gives way to springtime, so will your SAD ease away as the days get longer and warmer. In the meantime, please get intervention for your SAD so you can have fun with your life in your new home after moving to Denver.
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