Editor’s note: If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741. FARGO — If you've been feeling sad, hopeless or losing motivation or energy to do what you enjoy, local counselors are encouraging you to seek help now. Alexandra Kohlhase, a mental health counselor with Essentia Health, says these can be symptoms of seasonal affective disorder, or SAD.
It can occur when there is less daylight hours and the weather gets colder. Kohlhase also says if you have a family history of depression, you are more likely to experience SAD. But she says there are treatments that can help.
"Light therapy is a very good option. And people are often ..
. instructed to use it on a daily basis, you know, 30 minutes in the morning while you're getting ready for work," Kohlhase said. Other treatments can include general therapy, antidepressants, talking to a loved one or friend or even finding winter hobbies.
"Maybe you're a runner, but you decide to explore skiing instead, or snowshoeing. And you know, if you're a reader, even going to, you know, the library or finding a book club (can help)," Hohlhase said..