FARGO, N.D. (Valley News Live) – As the daylights starts to get shorter and the temperature starts to drop it can play a part in our mood. Seasonal affective disorder, otherwise known as \u201cSAD\u201d can affect how a person feels, thinks, and behaves.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re seeing symptoms of either depression or a pattern during a certain season, We either see it from fall to winter or you can see it from spring to summer as well,\u201d said Sara Dukart, a Psychiatric mental health practitioner at Sanford Health.<\/p>\n
Symptoms can include: Social withdrawal, decreased energy or fatigue, loss of interest in hobbies, feeling anxious, or hopelessness.<\/p>\n
\u201cWatching typical changes, sleep is a big one too, a lot of times people are wanting to sleep as soon as the sun goes down and that can happen at five o-clock and now we\u2019re sleeping 12-14 hours,\u201d said Dukart.<\/p>\n
Dukart also says in the upper Midwest more people tend to struggle in the winter time due to the severe colder temperatures and longer days without sunlight. If people do start to see symptoms in themselves or people they know it is important to reach out to your medical provider to find appropriate treatment options.<\/p>\n
\u201cMedications, therapy, and then when it\u2019s a seasonal affective disorder in that category then we do talk about artificial light,\u201d said Dukart.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe as a society have kind of been like oh that\u2019s normal, it\u2019s winter time, it\u2019s dark, but notifying and telling ourselves maybe I am struggling a little bit more than I should be, we have the right to be happy and healthy all year long,\u201d said Dukart.<\/p>\n
If you or someone you know may be struggling with severe depression the suicide crisis hotline is 9-8-8 and is available 24\/7.<\/p>\n
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