It is coming to that time of the year again when the days get shorter and the night feels longer. You may notice that your mood, energy level, and motivation can drop dramatically around the start of fall. You are not alone. This is a very common condition that occurs due to a disruption of the circadian rhythm. This means that your body has a regular biological cycle it goes through every day at the same time to maximize your health. Symptoms of seasonal depression are: feeling depressed on most days during the season; sadness; reduced energy; loss of concentration and interest in activities; feelings of worthlessness or hopelessness; trouble sleeping or oversleeping, etc.
There are ways to treat seasonal depression, including the following: Keep your home well lit, sit closer to bright windows both at home and in the office, take a walk outside each day, exercise regularly, eat a well-balanced diet, practice mindfulness, stick to your treatment plan, practice relaxation techniques such as yoga or meditation, and practice music or art therapy.
It is important to reiterate that seasonal depression is common, and there is nothing to be ashamed of about being affected by it
– E.M.
"Their entire team is FABULOUS. They have always treated me with dignity and respect. I have watched them with other clients as well and I see their genuine compassion for everyone that walks thru the door. I initially went to them because I moved to CO in late 2017 and they were the first place that had an opening. I needed a psychiatrist to keep me on my Rx. I was surprised when Dr Park spent more than 15 mins going over my past Rx history with me, as has been my experience for many years. Not only did we discuss Rx, he then spent another 45 mins talking to me as a counselor. I had never had a psychiatrist/counselor combo before and was amazed at how effective it is when your Dr hears more about what's going in your life than just the effects of your current Rx. This treatment model is not practiced by someone that doesn't care about his patients. He could offer the basics that most psychiatrists offer and still bill insurance the same amount but he wants his patients to succeed and is invested in their progress. He also doesn't believe in keeping someone in therapy forever. Even if it means less income for him, when you stabilize to the point that you have better things to do than spend 30 mins with him, it's a sign that you may be ready to engage in therapy less often and he will tell you that. Dr Park has been a life and marriage saver for me and he is amazingly efficient. He gets done in 1-2 sessions what would take 6 months for another counselor because he doesn't dance around the issues. To do this, he may be more blunt with you than you might have experienced before and that may be off putting to some. If you are ready to do the hard work to make your life enjoyable again, Dr Park is your man! He also got me hooked up with TMS. If you are someone that has struggled with depression for a long time and taken Rx that hasn't been effective, talk to someone about TMS. It's a game changer. It may sound like hokey fake science. It's not. It works and works fast. THANK YOU!"