BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — If you find yourself not getting enough sunlight during Louisiana winters and wanting to stay indoors, you could be suffering from seasonal affective disorder.
Seasonal affective disorder, also known as SAD, impacts women more than men. However, it can target any age group or gender. It also impacts those who are already diagnosed with depression.
“Most people don’t even know that what they are dealing with is seasonal affective disorder, they might just think it’s depression,” said Stephenne B. Calhoun, mental health therapist at Baton Rouge Counseling Associates.
Calhoun is a mental health therapist at Baton Rouge Counseling Associates on Perkins Road. She helps to explain what SAD is and how to fight it.
Looking back at the major healthcare advancements in Baton Rouge in 2023 “It is a form of depression that typically occurs during a specific season of the year, really fall and winter when we have less sunlight,” said Calhoun.
She said symptoms of SAD can include low energy, increased irritability, oversleeping, overeating and isolation. Calhoun also discussed how you can try to fight the depression.
“Behavorial activation is everything, make sure you’re staying on top of your routine. The things that you do every day, routine is important. Going to work, contacting your family members, doing your social activities,” said Calhoun.
Other treatment options include light therapy, talk therapy and antidepressants.
However, when does a person seek help?
“When you notice there is a persistent and disruptive change in your mood, your behavior and overall well-being. That’s the time you need to seek help,” said Calhoun.
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Help also includes the form of counseling. If you’re having suicidal thoughts, call or text 988 for Louisiana’s mental health hotline.
For more information on Baton Rouge Counseling Associates, click here .
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