HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WDAM) – Christmas may be just around the corner, but ‘tis a different kind of season for millions of Mississippians.
In fact, it actually has a name: Seasonal affective disorder.
Mississippi ranks ninth in the nation for the number of patients affected by the condition.
“It is actually a type of major depressive disorder,” said Dr. Ritchie Sheridan, Chair of Psychology at William Carey University. “Typically, it occurs in the fall and winter months, and then it remits in the spring and summer.”
Sheridan said a major reason exists for why the “winter blues” affect so many Mississippians.
“What happens is in the winter months, we don’t have as much sunlight, (like) with daylight savings time,” Sheridan said. “So, for some people, they may find themselves going to work early in the morning while it’s dark outside and driving home at night when it’s already dark.”
Common symptoms include loss of interest in pleasurable activities, fatigue, sadness and trouble sleeping.
Thankfully, there are natural ways one can try to curtail the disorder, but if the disorder is severe, Sheridan offered crucial piece of advice.
“The easy, simple thing is to really evaluate your lifestyle and really figure out some ways you can be out in the sun more, like exercise, some things that try to respect the natural rhythms,” Sheridan said. “But, there may be some deeper depression that may require some therapy or medications, things of that nature, so it’s important to talk with a mental health professional.”
A good diet and a healthy sleeping pattern also can help with seasonal affective disorder, Sheridan said.
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