Winter Solstice & Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Winter Solstice, the 22nd Solar Term is on December 21, 2022.
It is the "darkest day" of the year, with the shortest daytime and the longest nighttime. Due to the short sunshine and the cumulative effect of the previous months, the next two to three months will be the most challenging time for seasonal affective disorder (SAD) patients.
Seasonal Affective Disorder usually starts in late fall or early winter and can worsen as winter progresses. It is generally believed that it is related to the reduction of sunlight in winter. In general, the symptoms of SAD will disappear when the sunlight becomes sufficient in spring and summer. The symptoms of SAD are similar to major depressive disorder, except the patients are more likely to feel lethargy and have weight gain due to their craving for carbohydrates.
NIH
The patients may have the following symptoms:
• Feeling listless, sad or depressed most of the time, almost every day
• Loss of interest in activities that they once enjoyed
• Lack of energy and feeling sluggish
• Feel lethargic, sleeping too much
• Carbohydrate cravings, overeating and weight gain
• Difficulty concentrating
• Feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness, or guilt
• Suicidal ideations
(Do you know there is a spring-summer (SAD), also known as summer depression? Restlessness, anxiety, insomnia, and weight loss are more common in summer depression than in winter SAD. )
SAD can be treated with psychotherapy, light therapy and, if necessary, medication.
After the winter solstice, the days will get longer and longer. At the end of winter, it is spring. Now let's close our eyes, relax, and imagine the spring blossoms, the breeze brushing our cheeks, and the Canada geese and swans floating on the calm and warm lake water. It is very healing.
Here I present you a picture of peony.
于非闇牡丹
I wish you a happy holiday season! I hope you have a healthy and serene winter!
Francy Wang 王方， 12/21/2022 冬至）