As the temperatures start to drop, cases of seasonal effective disorder (SAD), which is a form of depression that occurs through the winter months, begin to increase
A therapist has revealed the four things that make your mental health worse during the winter months – he’s also shared tips for how you can cheer yourself up.
As the temperatures start to drop, cases of seasonal effective disorder (SAD), which is a form of depression that occurs through the winter months, begin to increase. Experts believe that this is caused by the shorter winter days reducing the amount of daylight, which sets off a chemical change in the brain, which can then cause the symptoms of depression to occur.
Oregon-based therapist, Jeff Guenther has revealed the different ways that seasonal depression can be overcome. Jeff, who is a love expert, often shares tips and advice for improved relationships on TikTok, but he’s now broadened his area of expertise to include seasonal affective disorder.
He recently took to TikTok to share his expertise and advice about how best to deal with the winter blues. In the now-viral video, which has over 34,000 views, Jeff explained that there tend to be four main factors that cause winter-related mental health issues.
The clip was captioned, ‘Four reasons depression feels even worse during the holidays and what to do about it’. The therapist then revealed: ‘Number one, unrealistic expectations. Holiday movies and Instagram have us thinking we need a Hallmark-level celebration, complete with perfect gifts, gourmet meals and matching pajamas.”
He added that: “Real life doesn’t look like that. Let yourself off the hook. The therapist also advised people to focus more on what really ‘matters’ and to just try to ‘forget the rest’.
Jeff then went on to explain that not getting enough sunlight tends to worsen seasonal affective disorder. He went on to explain that the shorter, darker days tend to ‘wreak havoc’ on mental health. In a bid to help combat these issues, he recommended getting outside every day while the sun is out to help boost mood.
Next, the therapist added: “Number three, reflecting on the past year. The end of the year invites self-reflection and it’s easy to dwell on what didn’t go as planned.” Jeff’s advice for dealing with this kind of situation is to ‘shift your focus’, instead thinking about ‘what you did accomplish’, rather than what you didn’t.
Jeff then added that the holidays can be tough as they can be a reminder of loved ones who are no longer with us, which can make this time of year even harder. He recommended: “Find ways to honor them, light a candle, share a story, or start a new tradition in their new memory and remember it’s okay to cry, laugh, or both.”