As winter settles in, so does Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) in the workplace. As the days grow shorter and the workload longer, we find ourselves battling not just deadlines, but the urge to hibernate under our desks until spring. It's like everyone suddenly morphs into human-sized houseplants, craving sunlight, and chlorophyll in equal measure.
Whether you, yourself suffer from SAD or you know someone who does, it’s important to understand what it is and to find treatable solutions to allow us to cope or help others who might need support.
Winter related SAD – look for these symptoms:
- Oversleeping
- Overeating, particularly with a craving for carbohydrates, leading to weight gain.
- Social withdrawal (or the hibernation effect)
Summer related SAD can look like this:
- Trouble sleeping (insomnia)
- Poor appetite, leading to weight loss.
- Restlessness and agitation
- Anxiety
- Violent or aggressive behavior
In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Ariel Dalfen, MD, FRCPC and co-founder of BRIA, a virtual clinic developed by leading MD psychiatrists with decades of experience in women’s mental health care. Ariel explains what SAD is, how it impacts us in our personal and professional life and tips to help treat it.
If you know someone who might be suffering, this would be a great episode to share with them. Tune in!
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