Flourish Health & Wellbeing eMag - Jan 26 - Flipbook - Page 19
Summer SAD may be linked
to elongated days, heat,
and humidity, according to
the Centre for Addic琀椀on and
Mental Health (CAMH), but
whether that’s true is yet to
be determined. Understanding
the triggers and managing the
symptoms e昀昀ec琀椀vely is key
to improving mental health
during these 琀椀mes.
Symptoms of SAD
Winter and summer SAD
can manifest in similar ways.
But, the main di昀昀erence
between the two forms of SAD
– according to WayAhead — is
that winter SAD is typically
re昀氀ec琀椀ve of symptoms like
depression and less mo琀椀va琀椀on.
With Summer SAD, symptoms
uniquely appear as anxiety
and sleeplessness.
According to Health Direct,
someone su昀昀ering from
winter SAD may experience
symptoms like:
• Low mood.
• Increased sleep and fa琀椀gue.
• Li琀琀le energy.
• Desire sugary foods and
carbohydrates.
• Experience weight gain.
• Lack of interest and
mo琀椀va琀椀on in day-to-day
ac琀椀vi琀椀es.
In Summer SAD, there are
some addi琀椀onal symptoms to
be aware of, including:
• Feeling agitated.
• Heightened anxiety.
• Low mood.
• Insomnia or issues sleeping.
• Weight loss.
• Li琀琀le mo琀椀va琀椀on.
Managing SAD
Winter SAD can be
managed with interven琀椀ons
like light therapy, 琀椀me spent
outdoors, and vitamin D
supplementa琀椀on. In more
serious cases, psychological
therapies may be necessary,
and medica琀椀on may
be considered.
Summer SAD can be
managed in a similar way, with
a focus more on managing
symptoms related to anxiety
and sleep disturbances.
CAMH recommends the
following strategies:
• Engaging in talk therapy,
such as Cogni琀椀ve
Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Maintaining social
connec琀椀ons to reduce
isola琀椀on
• Establishing a healthy sleep
rou琀椀ne
• Regular physical ac琀椀vity
• Adop琀椀ng a balanced diet to
support overall wellbeing
Seek Support
If you’re struggling with
symptoms of winter or
summer SAD, it’s crucial
to seek support. The earlier
you start engaging in
appropriate help, the less of
an impact SAD will have on
your life.
