Ahh, September- a return to school, cooler days, and football season. For many of us, fall signifies good memories and new starts. However, it may also mean feeling down, or even a lapse back into depression. For years, researchers have searched for the reasoning behind these seasonal changes in mood- even going as far as to create a new term for it: “Seasonal Affective Disorder.” But recent findings show that the answer just could be simpler than we thought: a lack of Vitamin D.
Vitamin D, “the sunshine vitamin”, is well known for being necessary for bone health and growth. However, studies have now found a strong link between Vitamin D deficiencies and depression. In fact, the lower one’s levels of Vitamin D, the higher the risk for depression. Unfortunately, this link is even stronger in women. And the cloudy days of fall, bundled under layers of clothing, only add to our likelihood of deficiency.
The good news? There may be an easy fix. As therapists, we know that counseling works best when paired with good medical care and a clean bill of health. Most doctors can run a quick blood test to check your Vitamin D levels, and can prescribe over the counter or prescription strength supplements to get you back on track.
For additional information, as well as tips and tricks to increasing your Vitamin D levels naturally, read the article in Psychology Today HERE.
By Melissa Michaud. Counseling Denver for a Better Life.