SATURDAY, Feb.6, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- The COVID-19 pandemic can make mental health struggles even worse for some people with seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
SAD is a type of depression triggered by the shorter daylight hours and gray skies of winter. It causes symptoms such as overeating, social withdrawal and decreased energy.
Pandemic-related effects such as stress, anxiety and social isolation could make SAD even worse for some people, according to Dr. Drew Pate, chief of psychiatry at LifeBridge Health, a health care corporation in Baltimore.
He offered some advice for people with SAD. No. 1 on his list: Get as much exposure to sunlight as you can.
"Open your curtains and blinds in the morning and position yourself near windows at work if you can," Pate suggested in a LifeBridge news release. "Exposing yourself to natural light early in the day, even light on a cloudy day, can help improve your mood and energy level."
If possible, sit outside during work breaks, Pate recommended. And, he added, consider using a light therapy box.
"Using a light therapy box in the morning soon after waking up can have dramatic effects on your mood and energy level throughout the day," Pate said.
Here are some other coping strategies:
If your mood or energy still aren't improving, consider seeking professional help, Pate advised.
More information
The U.S. National Institute of Mental Health has more on SAD.
SOURCE: LifeBridge Health, news release, Jan. 7, 2021