Ask the Expert: Understanding Seasonal Affective Disorder

Ask the Expert: Understanding Seasonal Affective Disorder

When you live in Maine, winter brings both a sense of joy and sometimes dread. Clearing one’s driveway, navigating slippery roads and getting the kids, or dogs, outside can be stressful. However, for some, winter can bring more than just stress, it can cause a type of depression called SAD. Kat Beaumont, an OHH and substance use disorder clinician at Kennebec Behavioral Health, explains what SAD is, how to identify the signs and what to do if you are experiencing seasonal depression.

It’s normal to feel down occasionally or to get stressed with bad weather. However, depression from SAD is more serious. Often seasonal affective disorder needs more than at-home behaviors and it is best to discuss a treatment with your doctor. There are medications and therapies that can be effective for seasonal affective disorder. If SAD is interfering with your quality of life, reach out for help by talking to your doctor.

Kennebec Behavioral Health provides effective clinical and community-based mental health services to youth, adults and families in Maine.

This article is educational in nature and should not be considered official medical advice.
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