JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The First Coast experienced daily rain for nearly two weeks straight, which created headaches on the roads and for outdoor activities.
It may have caused headaches in emotional and mental ways also. That prolonged period of rain and cloud cover was enough for some to move into Seasonal Affective Disorder.
“The chemistry in our brain is actually affected and it slows the production of serotonin,” said Dr. Christine Cauffield, CEO of LSF Health Systems, a not-for-profit contracted with the Florida Department of Children and Families. LSF Health Systems has 98 behavioral healthcare provider organizations and serves a 23-county region.
Symptoms include feeling anxious or depressed, having low energy and problems with memory or concentration.
“It's really important to balance how we're feeling with bringing in as much joyfulness as we can to balance out that difficult and low mood,” Cauffield said.
To try to balance out your mood, Cauffield suggests these tips:
- Watch your diet and don’t self-medicate with sweets or carbohydrates
- If you are someone who regularly exercises, don’t let the weather stop you
- Keep a regular sleep cycle
- If possible, take a weekend trip to a place with sunnier skies
- Watch comedies
- Reach out to others and don’t isolate
“And if you find that this mood change, your depression, is worsening, it's affecting your family life, it's affecting your work life, then it's time to reach out for some additional support,” said Cauffield.
If you start to feel suicidal thoughts, call 988.