What is it?
Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD is a disorder that's more common than most people think. Often referred to as ‘the winter blues’ it’s a disorder that can make the winter season a lot harder for many people – including members of staff within your company.
How can you tell if someone is suffering?
Symptoms of seasonal affective disorder can include:
Consistent low mood.
Are they not as warm towards others as they usually are?
A loss of interest in things
Do they seem less engaged in conversation and work projects?
Irritability
Are they more easily frustrated than normal?
Feeling lethargic
Do they appear to be tired and less motivated?
Sleeping for longer than normal – finding it hard to get up in the morning
Are they coming to work a bit late, or seem less put together and ready for the day?
What can you do to help someone struggling with Seasonal affective disorder?
Ask them how they’re feeling
Talking helps. You can help by just lending your ears and listening.
Support them by encouraging them to get help
If it’s explicitly clear they’re struggling, sometimes it can help to softly encourage them to get help, some people find it hard to accept help, let alone reach out for it.
Don’t be overcritical
In the workplace, helpful criticism is often necessary but be aware of your colleagues' state of mind in the winter period.
Ask them what helps, and if you can do anything
Offering a helping hand is usually welcome by someone suffering from seasonal depression, but don’t be pushy if they don’t accept help – being overbearing can also be detrimental to someone trying to push through.
Be positive around them
The last thing someone struggling with seasonal affective disorder wants is for everyone else to be reminding them about the negative aspects of the winter period, try to maintain a positive attitude around them. Again though, don’t be too over the top as this can often make people feel worse.
In conclusion
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD.) Is more common than you might think – you may even suffer from it yourself and not realise! So as we head into the winter season keep an eye out for symptoms in yourself and others, and do your best to make winter a more pleasant time of year – because apart from the short Christmas break winter can be long and unforgiving when it comes to mental health!
Why not check out some of our other blogs? https://www.brownpaperpackages.co.uk/blog
https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder-sad/overview/
