While many people are filled with joy and energy during the holiday season, there are some who experience seasonal depression that leaves them sad and blue.
Two mental health professionals from the Twin Tiers area shared thoughts on identifying seasonal depression from full-blown major depression — and how it should be addressed during the holidays and throughout the winter.
Dr. Craig Zuckerman, a psychologist with Rehabilitation Today Services in Olean, N.Y., said anytime a change in behavior or mood is noticed in someone for more than a week, it is advisable to consult a physician to determine the cause.
“There are obvious signs and symptoms of depression that can develop during the holidays or the winter season,” Zuckerman said. “The best advice is to see a primary care doctor about what might be going on.
“Being able to prevent winter blues or seasonal blues is probably the same process as fighting off the blues anytime of the year,” Zuckerman continued. “People need to stay positive in their thinking, positively connected to other people as well as healthy and active.”
He said these methods aren’t always easy to accomplish during the holidays and winter months.
“The other challenge with the holidays for a lot of people is that it does represent family loss of some type,” Zuckerman explained. “It’s natural to have changes (in behavior) as a result of that.”
He said if seasonally depressed people can manage to follow four categories, which are maintaining positive thinking, staying connected to others and staying active and healthy, they can see improvements in their mood.
“At this time of year, people have to be a little more creative and work a little harder at doing those things,” he admitted. “And as (people) know, seasonal affective disorder is sometimes associated with the reduction in sunlight.”
He said this can be addressed with a heat lamp or going to venues, such as stores or other facilities, that are brightly lit.
Dr. Alex Welge, a psychiatrist with The Guidance Center in Bradford, said he, too, believes the lack of sunlight, which can lead to Vitamin D deficiency, can lead to seasonal depression.
“I ask people to check with their primary care doctor to determine if they have Vitamin D deficiency,” Welge said. “The mainstay of treatment for this is phototherapy” which is light therapy that exposes people to ultraviolet rays or sunlight.
“The important thing is to make sure this is not a major depression,” Welge remarked. “The most important thing is to be sure it is actually a seasonal thing and it’s mild.
“If it is a true depression, it needs to be treated, because you don’t want to have somebody who is feeling so depressed and suicidal to get missed,” he said. “The important point is they need to explore the true criteria for depression” which can include changes in sleep patterns, energy patterns and appetite.
Welge said people who have experienced two weeks or more of a depressed mood should contact their primary care doctor.
“Most primary care doctors are equipped to help people with that, you don’t actually have to see a psychiatrist for depression right away,” he added. In turn, the primary care doctor can refer the individual to a psychiatrist, or for therapy, if it’s believed the individual needs more help.
“The main thing I’d be worried about is if this person is actually depressed,” Welge concluded. “Is this person minimizing their symptoms when they actually have more serious symptoms. You need to go through that to be sure they’re not suicidal or at risk of suicide.”
