3 Pervasive, Persistent Myths about Seasonal Affective Disorder

Our society tends to dismiss seasonal affective disorder (SAD). We minimize it. We misunderstand it. Oh, you just don’t like winter. And who could blame you? Winter is tough on everyone. Oh, SAD is like the winter blues, right? You get grumpy or moody because you hate the freezing cold. You’re just in a funk. It happens to a lot of people. It’s totally normal. How can you feel depressed when the air is so crisp and it’s a winter wonderland out there? We incorporate SAD into our vocabulary, flippantly using it in conversation. “Similar to someone saying “I can’t make up my mind, it’s like I’m schizophrenic,” or “Costco was out of those socks I love, I’m so depressed,” it’s tempting to trivialize the reality of SAD,” said Stephanie Smith, PsyD, a psychologist in practice in Erie, Colo., who specializes in working with individuals with depression. “Instead of appreciating it for the real mental illness it is, it becomes ‘Ugh, I hate driving in the snow and ice; it’s like I have SAD.” In reality, SAD can be devastating. Smith’s clients have described their experience as falling off a cliff. Melanie Greenberg’s clients experience a deep dread as winter approaches. Some feel fatigued and lethargic and have a really hard time getting out of bed and on with their day. “Others describe an emotional heaviness.” Dr. William Marchand’s clients have described SAD as being kicked in the stomach or having a lead weight inside their st...
Source: Psych Central - Category: Psychiatry Authors: Tags: Depression Disorders General Seasonal Affective Disorder Stigma Light therapy Mental Health Stigma phototherapy SAD summer depression summertime depression winter depression wintertime depression Source Type: news