The SAD Is Prominent And Here Are 3 Ways To Tackle It Head On

Before it becomes a full fledged depression

Seasonal Affective Disorder is more common than I initially thought it would be.

I never knew it was a phenomenon until I moved to the windy city in the fall of 2017. Chicago is beautiful in the summer and fall. It is brutal in winter.

My excitement to move to such a historic city and start a new venture was paused by a constant bout of mood swings and lack of energy. it perplexed me.

I am used to a tropical, humid climate, since I am from Mumbai, India. The cold of Chicago was a new experience. I was not prepared for it.

Typical symptoms of SAD are -

• Lack of Energy

• Oversleeping

• Lack of Motivation

• Weight Gain

If not attended, it can turn into an episode of full-blown depression.

I knew I had to address this issue and I did it in the best way I knew. I looked it up on the internet. As reliable a source as it is, it threw me off the rails into darker alleys.

The next best thing I thought about and much to my better sense was to seek professional help

Here are a few things I learned that I think helped me:

• Planning my day to stay active

• Journaling

• Staying in touch with the social group

Seasonal Affective Disorder, even though it is common, prolonged suffering can cause adverse effects on mental health.

If none of the above initiatives works out, the obvious one is to seek professional help.