This long, drawn-out winter of Central Alberta’s discontent lends itself to a prime excuse to hide indoors and wait until spring truly arrives.
But the key to a better mood can actually be to get outside and experience the sunshine, limited as it may be, a Red Deer psychologist said.
“Seasonal affective disorder has been associated with lower light levels through the winter, so typically the treatment is using UV (ultra violet) lights to get the person additional UV spectrum light,” said Marc Roy, a psychologist with Cirrus Psychology Services in Red Deer.
“Given the length of our winter this year, it has impacted people’s moods. It’s been grey and dreary and that can get people down,” Roy said.
The consensus among mental health professionals is that SAD occurs most commonly during the time of year when the sun is out for less than 10 hours per day — in Red Deer, this takes place between late October and mid-February.
During a winter season that extends into March, however, many people elect to stay inside, making the increased levels of natural UV light and conversely the lower chance of experiencing SAD null and void.
Roy recommends increasing exercise levels and getting outside, despite how ugly it may look out there.
“It’s unpleasant to go outside (during a long winter) but it can compound the situation if you just stay inside,” he said.
“It sounds counter-intuitive, but getting outside to get some fresh air and sunlight when there is some can really help improve your overall mood.”
syoung@www.reddeeradvocate.com