Tips for Veterans Navigating Seasonal Depression: Don’t Get SAD, Get Prepared

Did you know January and February are the two months in the year in which up to 20% of the US population experience some form of Seasonal Affect Disorder (SAD)? SAD is a form of depression brought about by the lack of daylight. Sunlight allows our bodies to produce serotonin which serves as a neurotransmitter that results in a feeling of happiness. Less sunlight = less happiness for a lot of people, especially those already coping with another form of anxiety or depression (which, let’s face it - is most Americans).

The good news is there are things you can do today, tomorrow and in the future to prepare for and perhaps ward off SAD.

Today
There are three things you can do today to battle SAD (and anxiety and depression, in general).
Exercise - You’ve probably heard it a million times, but a good sweat session produces endorphins similar to serotonin that result in a feeling of happiness. Sure, no one feels awesome while bench pressing or running in place on the treadmill, but afterwards the feeling of contentment is akin to a day basking in the sun. At the very least, if you workout hard enough you will be too tired to feel sad!
Sleep - From one extreme to the next: sleep is also a key component to feeling good. Establishing good sleep habits like a routine bedtime and wake-up, no screens 30 minutes prior to hitting the hay and planning for enough hours in dreamland to allow the body to recover and the mind to rest is essential for keeping anxiety and depression at bay.
Eat - If you want to feel good, you have to eat well. Load up on fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains and drink plenty of water. Over-processed foods, refined sugars and alcohol all deprive the body of vital nutrients needed to make you feel happy. The double cheeseburger and fries might feel good for the few minutes it takes you to eat them, but the feelings of yuck last far longer.

Tomorrow
Get help. You don’t need to fight the seasonal blues on your own. Many soldiers and Vets abhor the idea of counseling. No one wants to be “diagnosed” with a mental illness even though the reality is that one out of every five Americans suffer from one. If there is a bright side to the pandemic, it is that counseling services have become exponentially easier to obtain. You can pay for them the same way you pay for Netflix, on a subscription basis. You can talk face-to-face via your computer or phone, communicate via email and text messages and pretty much cater your services to fit your needs and comfort level. Calmerry, Betterhelp and Talkspace are just a few of the services available that don’t require any insurance or communication with your healthcare practitioners. Check out reviews at Dr.Mental.org: https://rly.pt/3nFcrD5

The Future
You don’t have to wait to get help. The future is here! Feeling anxious or SAD? There’s an app for that, literally. Check out a meditation app to help you relax and refocus. Here are the seven best choices according to verywellmind.com: Best Meditation Apps: https://rly.pt/3AbTooW

Maybe meditation isn’t your thing. That’s ok, you can also beat SAD by tricking your body into thinking it’s summer. Ok, maybe not summer, but at least sunny. Check out the top five light therapy lamps of 2022 here: Top 5 SAD Light Boxes: https://rly.pt/3FG6prZ

Want more? Google it! There are loads of ways to beat SAD. Calmigo: https://rly.pt/3qGcO20 is a drug-free inhaler used by many people to ease the symptoms of anxiety and PTSD. There are so many ways to help you cope with the post-holiday winter blues. Share your ideas in the comments!