Midwest winters are no joke. Temperatures plummet, snow accumulates everywhere and days are shorter. While others might shy away from such harsh conditions, we Midwesterners brave the cold months with a sense of pride. But, this doesn’t mean we’re immune to the effects of winter from a behavioral health standpoint.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a form of depression that generally sets in during fall and lasts throughout the winter primarily due to longer periods spent indoors and a lack of sunlight. While spring and summer often relieve the symptoms of SAD, we’re here to tell you there are ways to conquer SAD even in the midst of a Midwestern winter.

Identifying SAD

A common misconception is that SAD is its own disorder. It’s actually a version of depression closely tied to a season rather than other factors. Signs of SAD include –

• Low energy
• Feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness
• Loss of interest
• Carbohydrate cravings
• Social withdrawal

Show SAD who’s boss

Now that we have a better understanding of SAD, it’s time to get down to business and learn how to get the better of SAD.

• SAD lights. Typically, 20-60 minutes every morning in front of a white florescent light box does the trick and is much more effective than regular indoor lighting.

• Quartz Behavioral Health. Sometimes we need support to help us get back on track, and Quartz is here to help. Visit QuartzBenefits.com/healthmanagement for more information on our Behavioral Health department.

• Plan a fun indoor activity. Create slime from scratch. Bake some goodies. Have a dance party. Build a pillow fort. The list goes on, but changing up your routine could bring some joy to being indoors during the winter.

• Exercise indoors with MobileBack. Our app-based program helps you strengthen you back. With 85 percent of users recommending MobileBack to friends, why wouldn’t you check it out. Visit QuartzBenefits.com/mobileback for more information. You can even track your workout s with Quartz well to earn points.

Source: National Institute of Mental Health, “Seasonal Affective Disorder.” Accessed at nimh.mih.gov on November 11, 2019. 

Start this decade off with the gift of wellness – Get Quartz Well Today

As you get ready for the beginning of a new year, don’t forget about Quartz Well!

Starting in 2020 we have lots of things to get excited about when it comes to Quartz Well –

• Earn 1 point per day for self-reporting exercises
• Telehealth will reward you with points
• Take the Health Risk Assessment to find where you’re at in your wellness journey
• Participate in wellness workshops to earn even more point than before
• And more!