As the weather turns colder and days become shorter, millions of Americans are struggling with seasonal depression.
A nationwide study of Google search analytics shows Utah has the sixth highest rate of seasonal depression in the nation.
Tim Frost is a licensed clinical social worker at Bear River Mental Health in Logan. He talks about how to help those with what is called seasonal affective disorder (SAD), or the winter blues.
“We start off by doing a good, thorough assessment with them to make sure that what’s happening with them is not complicated by other factors; other things going on like relationship issues, a history of trauma, those kinds of things,” says Frost. “And if we’re really looking at a pretty clear case of seasonal affective disorder, there are a number of things we can do with those individuals.”
He said options include light therapy, regular psychotherapy — talk therapy — and for more stringent cases medication is an alternative.
“The other thing that can be very useful in these kinds of situations is just being very active, whatever that activity looks like for people,” Frost adds. “Whether it’s physical activity in the home, just doing regular chores, or whether there’s an exercise regimen people engage in. Just being active.”
In most cases, SAD symptoms start in the late fall or early winter and go away during the spring and summer; this is known as winter-pattern SAD or winter depression.
Vitamin D can help significantly. Check with your doctor first, but a daily supplement of 1000-2000 IU can make a big difference. It is inexpensive, and you can buy it over the counter at your local pharmacy.