For many, the holidays are a time of sadness, but there are ways to help.
SAN ANTONIO — For most of us the holidays are a joyous time for friends, family, and love ones. But for some, these colder months in the year don’t result in season’s greetings, but a season of sadness.
Seasonal depression, or seasonal affective disorder, is thought to be caused by less sunlight which affects the chemicals in the brain that control mood like seratonin and melatonin. Not only can it affect your emotions, but also your body’s internal clock, resulting in a snowball of effects that need to be recognized. Dr. Vince Callahan, a neurologist with the Florida Institute of Neural Discovery said, “They just become depressed and sad during the holiday season because of the weather and just don’t want to go out, which is the worst thing they could do.”
But the best thing to do, step outside and get some vitamin D from the sun, even on cloudy days. Dr. Callahan told us, “Vitamin D helps with moods and it helps with, making the neurotransmitters in the brain work more effectively.”
Besides sadness those symptoms could include anxiety or irritability, loss of interest in activities, low energy or feeling tired, poor sleep patterns, a change in appetite. Dr. Callahan added, “They get in this position, they want their friends to pick up on, hey, what’s wrong with you? And you’re okay. But yet they won’t go out and put themselves near their friends.”
Dr. Callahan says getting away from your phone is a must. He told us, “I like to tell families to turn your screens off at least once a week and do something for the family. Do something together, bond or connect.”