Managing Seasonal Depression
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Where have we taught this?
Andi and her students/volunteers will go around to community centers to teach topics requested by community members. Depending on what is requested, they will create a teaching tool, and hand out aids depending on what is taught. For example, for the seasonal depression they handed out a grab bag and each person got to pick a goodie from inside such as: fidget toys, lotions, mugs, eye masks, etc. | What is seasonal depression, and how does it affect the community? Seasonal depression is a type of depression that comes around the same time every year. It can hit during different seasons, for some people it is fall, others it does not bother them until January, some people even get it in the summer instead of the winter. It is more commonly occurring in the winter though because the days are darker and there is less sunlight, as well as the cold temperatures making it difficult to be outside. On the same hand, the holiday season can be a rough time for people in general, also triggering this depression. Community engagement lowers during this time because people do not want to leave their houses, some people are very lonely during the winters, and it is more difficult to go outside and do things in general. |
What to look out for:
Being aware of different signs and symptoms of this depression can help you manage your health this season.
- Increased irritability
- Increased/decreased appetite
- Sleeping too much/too little
- Socially isolating yourself, not wanting hang out with family or friends
- Loosing interest in daily activities
- Increased fatigue
- Feelings of sadness or hopelessness
- Suicidal or self harm ideations
If you notice these signs/symptoms in yourself or a loved one, try out these ideas to get out of the slump:
- Joining a new community(church, book club, knitting club)
- Talking to friends/family at least once a day, even on the phone
- Looking outside your window, spending even a little time in or looking at nature can really help!
- Sticking to a regular routine, making sure you have activities to look forward to
- Start a new hobby: do puzzles, get an adult coloring book, learn how to do something new!
- Exercise, going for short walks or doing easy yoga(lots of different youtube videos can guide you through easy chair yoga)
If experiencing thoughts of suicide or harming yourself or others please call the Cleveland Mental Health Crisis Line: 216-623-6888
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