As the weather gets chilly and the days shorter, some people suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), or the winter blues. According to the National Institute of Health, symptoms include hopelessness, negative mood, increased appetite and sleep, inability to concentrate, loss of interest in work and other activities and social withdrawal.
Some lifestyle changes, such as getting as much sunlight as possible, exercising, eating healthy, and being around family and friends, can help.
Here to discuss SAD and ways to detect and overcome it are Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Tracey Skale; University of Cincinnati Adjunct Associate Professor of Psychiatry and physician with University of Cincinnati Physicians, Dr. Erik Nelson; and licensed professional counselor and doctoral candidate in the counselor education and supervisor program at Kent State University, Julie Lineburgh.
The UC Health Mood Disorders Center will present the Spring Mood Disorders Symposium 2016 at the Daniel Drake Center on April 16. A professional symposium (CEU, $75 per person), “Treatment Resistant Depression- an Update of Treatment Options,” will be held from 8 a.m. until noon. A free session will take place from 1 until 5 p.m., “Healthy Living in a Stressful World - Strategies for Thriving with Stress in Daily Life.”