Northwestern and Evanston medical providers offer many resources for community members who may be experiencing symptoms of seasonal affective disorder this winter.
SAD is induced by the change in seasons, most commonly occurring in the winter. Symptoms include heaviness, brain fog, an increased desire for carbohydrates and lower energy, according to Claudia Rosen, clinical director of Connections Health in Evanston.
“When somebody begins to feel like they’re failing at something, there is a lot of pressure today to keep things up and perform at a high level,” Rosen said. “I think that difference — that disparity between the energy and the expectations that one might have for oneself — can make us feel those seasonal changes even more.”
One resource to help cope with the disorder is white light therapy, which stimulates natural light that is often lost in the winter mornings, said Mary Liz Jayne-Ballard, senior associate director of NU Recreation. Users often complete everyday tasks or rest while white light indirectly enters their eyes.
Northwestern students, faculty, staff and members can receive drop-in care at the Henry Crown Sports Pavilion’s Wellness Suite. The pavilion offers white light therapy Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“We live in the Midwest, where we can’t get (natural light) all the time,” Jayne-Ballard said, adding that the artificial light effectively “counteracts the reduced exposure to sunlight in the fall, winter and early spring.”
Other natural ways to alleviate symptoms include getting outside as much as possible, spending time with animals and going to bed and waking up earlier, according to Catherine Boyce, the executive director of Evanston Counseling.
There are many outdoor activities that remain accessible during the winter months to alleviate symptoms of SAD.
“If you have a car, you can go up to the Botanic Gardens. You can go downtown, to the zoo [or] Lincoln Park,” Boyce said. “Trying to get outside and doing as much as you can outside, despite the cold, does help.”
It is also important to continue to socialize, Rosen said, even if it goes against your natural instincts when it is dark outside and energy is low.
Residents can also make use of professional help, with some practices providing individualized plans for coping with the disorder. Evanston Counseling and Connections Health are two practices available to residents struggling with the seasonal disorder.
If SAD is affecting relationships or making it difficult to complete daily activities, Boyce said residents should consider seeking professional support.
“Having someone to partner with you on, ‘How do I even decide whether some of those resources I’m trying or some of the strategies I’m trying are actually making a difference?,’” Rosen said. “That can be very helpful to have someone be able to talk that through and mirror back what’s working, what doesn’t seem to be working and what’s going to make a difference in getting through the winter.”
Boyce said prescription or over-the-counter medication is also an option if other strategies don’t seem to work.
As awareness of SAD has increased, according to Rosen, both Evanston Counseling and Connections Health continually extend their support to residents.
“It’s not about pushing through,” Rosen said. “It is about finding ways to adapt to the cycles of winter.”
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