FEBC Reminds Members That Seasonal Affective Disorder is Manageable Through Upcoming Counseling Benefit
SAN RAMON, Calif., Dec. 6, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The changing seasons bring joy for many who look forward to the holidays or cozy nights by the fire. But for others, the change to the cooler months can mean a dampening of mood instead of a lifting of spirit. It's estimated that 1 to 10 percent of Americans experience Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a disorder related to major depression that affects people when the seasons change. Financial Education Benefits Center provides benefits memberships for health and financial wellness, including an upcoming counseling service benefit with which members can address troubling changes in mood, whether they turn into bigger issues like SAD or they turn out to be nothing to worry about.
Seasonal Affective Disorder is still not very well understood. While it's common for people to mourn summer as cold weather and shorter days come on — this is evident even in cell phone usage as people cut their night-time activity short in winter months — not all those people can be diagnosed with SAD. Experts can't say conclusively what causes SAD, but they tend to connect it to the reduced daylight hours during the winter months, pointing out that those who live farther from the equator, and thus in areas with fewer daylight hours, experience SAD more often than those who live closer to the equator.
"It's easy to feel sad at the end of summer when you can no longer spend your free time out in the sun, swimming, hiking or whatever you love to do," said Jennifer Martinez, manager at FEBC. "But for some people, those feelings may be more than a little nostalgia and can get more serious. It's important to recognize when that happens and get help."
Because SAD is a type of depression, symptoms and treatment options overlap. While SAD shares common depressive symptoms like fatigue, lack of motivation or enjoyment of activities and feeling "down," SAD-specific symptoms include oversleeping, overeating and social withdrawal akin to hibernation. Treatment for SAD, like depression, should be pursued with help from a professional. Specific FEBC members will have access to a counseling service where they can talk to certified counselors who would be able to start a treatment plan or refer members to a local professional for ongoing support.
While treatment for SAD may look different for each person, it's not uncommon to hear about light therapy using a light box, vitamin D supplements and exercise. It's also a good idea to stay in contact with loved ones and keep organizing and participating in social gatherings. In Sweden, where they experience a few weeks of 24-hour darkness every year, family and friends celebrate the dark and cold weather together to keep their spirits high. Other treatment options can include medication or cognitive behavioral therapy, though those options should have professional guidance.
"It's hard to get help when you're feeling down, but it's important to know that help is out there," said Martinez. "With just a phone call, eligible members will soon be able to start themselves on the path to stability throughout the seasons. Instead of just accepting that winter will be tough mentally, we suggest taking action by talking to a counseling professional to see how to live your life in winter more like you do in summer."
About the Financial Education Benefits Center
The Financial Education Benefits Center is located in San Ramon, California. The Company has already helped thousands of people save money and obtain the necessary education required to live a financially healthy life.
The Financial Education Benefits Center has partnered with several name brand third-party companies to expand the financial and educational products and services available to its members and to provide a variety of wellness services as well.
Contact
To learn more about the Financial Education Benefits Center, please contact:
Financial Education Benefits Center
2010 Crow Canyon Place Ste. 100
San Ramon, CA 94583
1-800-953-1388
[email protected]
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SOURCE Financial Education Benefits Center
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