Avoiding SAD Following Moving to Tulsa

By Julie DeLong, A-1 Freeman Moving Group 

As exhilarating as moving to Tulsa may be, at some point the moving high goes away and you return to earth with a great big thud. And when re-entry is throughout the winter season, it can result in seasonal depression--also known as SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). Especially if your move has taken you somewhere where winter is a real thing--such as if you've moved from Arizona to Maine-you need to be ready for some seasonal anxiety symptoms and know how to manage it through to the spring thaw.

Should you recollect anything at all pertaining to high school geography, the more north you go, the less daytime there will be throughout the fall and winter seasons. The shorter days seem to come together with dismal dull days, so that it feels like the sun never shines for months on end. Then just about all you'd like to do is hibernate--stay at home, sleep, binge watch movies online, and simply stay away from the world. If you have just moved across the country and are in a new place, and you haven't essentially settled into a new normal routine yet, it's much easier to succumb to the grip of seasonal depression. Thus, here's how you possibly can deal with it from your own home, or a couple of treatments a professional may prescribe if you're unable to keep it under control by yourself.

One note--SAD is actually a thing--the Mayo Clinic addresses it, as well as the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) contains it. If you experience the signs and symptoms of major depression linked to winter season, find therapy in case you have had the outward symptoms in the past.

Brighten Your Surroundings

Light Treatments

Phototherapy is the miracle bullet for lots of people with SAD. It's a simple treatment that professionals believe transforms your brain balance with half hour per day of exposure; There are no serious adverse effects and it is a home therapy, so it is worth a consideration. You will need a light box that gives off a minimum of 10,000 lux (lux factors in the intensity of the lighting). Sit down by the box--around 16 to 24 inches away from you--while you enjoy your morning cup of coffee, not looking directly at the light source but with your eyes open. Make certain the box is made specifically for SAD treatment, as it will get rid of UV light.

Easy things--higher-watt light bulbs, opening window coverings in the daytime, and sitting by a window where you work, if possible--that get you to extra light will have a recognizable benefit. Cut back any shrub limbs that dangle across your house to let in more natural light, and investigate putting in skylights to allow all the sun you can to the home.

Get Out-of-doors

Take a walk, consume your lunch time outside--anything to absorb some weak winter season sun light. Even just a minimal increase of Vitamin D is ideal for you and heading out-of-doors for a brief stroll satisfies that in addition to getting your heart rate up. Early morning sun--even on overcast days--packs more of a wallop as opposed to weak mid-day sun, so strive to go out to get going with your day.

Exercise and Socialize

Exercise is the standard protocol for helping any variety of depression--it gets the endorphins flowing, which in turn helps reduce the outward symptoms of stress and anxiety. If your new residence is in a location where cold weather sporting activities are prevalent, find a new hobby--snow skiing, ice skating, even ice fishing. Attempt to get out and connect with others, even if it's only enjoying lunch or having coffee with co-workers.

Professional Treatment

If your SAD persists once you have tried to keep it in check by yourself, I highly recommend you seek a doctor's help. A psychologist or psychiatrist can do a comprehensive examination of your physical and mental wellness and evaluate whether your symptoms are really seasonal or maybe the roots of a more persistent depressive disorder. One of the primary questions they will ask is if any different family members are subject to SAD--it is assumed to be hereditary. Treatments could be talk therapy, relaxation or meditation, or possibly a short-term prescription for antidepressants.

Remember that as wintertime gives way to spring, so will your SAD ease away as the days get lengthier as well as warmer. For now, please seek intervention for your SAD to help you enjoy your life in your new residence after moving to Tulsa.