SHREVEPORT, La. — As daylight hours shrink and temperatures drop, mental health experts say more people may experience symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder, a form of depression tied to seasonal changes.
“When the days get shorter and the sunlight goes away, it throws off your biological clock,” said Chandra Walker-Target, a psychiatric nurse practitioner at Willis-Knighton Health.
SAD often emerges in the late fall and winter. Walker-Target said people who know they are prone to seasonal depression should take preventive steps before symptoms worsen.
“I always recommend my clients practice self-care,” she said. “If you usually get depressed during the holidays, start eating better, working out, staying busy or volunteering. Those things can help lift your mood and give you purpose.”
Treatment options are available locally. Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport and Oceans Healthcare’s Louisiana Behavioral Health Center offers light therapy and counseling for individuals dealing with SAD.
Wellness clinics in the area also offer alternative forms of treatment. Robert Wheeler, CEO of Rapid Recovery — an IV therapy facility — said people visit daily seeking mental relief. Each year, the clinic works to meet that need by offering free vitamin D injections.
“I think last year we gave away more than a thousand free doses of vitamin D,” Wheeler said.
He said reduced sunlight during the winter means many people are unable to produce enough vitamin D on their own.
“If you go to work before the sun comes up and leave after it’s down, you’re not making any vitamin D,” Wheeler said. “A three-month supply is about ten dollars, and 2,000 IUs a day can replace what your body isn’t getting.”
While winter-pattern SAD is most common, experts note the condition can also appear during the summer. Walker-Target said she sees the highest increase in symptoms around the holiday season.