Fall is a beautiful time of year in Charleston. The temperature starts to drop, jackets are pulled out of closets, and the time falls back to allow the citizens of Charleston time to maximize time spent in the lessening sunlight. It is also a time when some people begin to experience symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). This disorder, which leaves people, including seniors, feeling blue, occurs most often after the holidays. However, it can begin as soon as the season begins to change and sunlight decreases. Symptoms include a lack of energy and enthusiasm, as well as a change in mood and perspective, a lack of sleep, a change in eating habits, and much more.
Recognizing these symptoms can help your senior better handle the change of season. Thus, increasing the quality of their life during this seasonal change. Senior Helpers of Charleston, who provide aging in place and caretaker services for your senior and serve the Charleston, Mt. Pleasant, Moncks Corner, James Island, and Daniel Island area, can help ensure that signs of your senior's Season Affective Disorder are noticed and can help your senior to do little things to handle their Seasonal Affective Disorder each day in the best possible way.
Sleepiness, Fatigue, and Lack of Energy
One of the first signs of Seasonal Affective Disorder is general and pervasive sleepiness. This sign may present itself in oversleeping, extra naps, and general fatigue in everyday activities. This can lead to seniors not wanting to engage in everyday actions that contribute to their health and well-being. For example, gatherings with friends, exercise opportunities, and other social opportunities. According to the Mayo Clinic, this general lack of energy can be a big warning sign that your senior is experiencing SAD. Our attentive and knowledgeable caretakers of Senior Helpers of Charleston can help identify this lack of energy. Then, help them to continue to do everyday things. Indeed, they can take walks and meet with friends to help combat the fatigue common with SAD.
Changes in Weight Dur to Seasonal Affective Disorder
Another sign of SAD that often manifests in seniors is a change of weight. This can either be an increase or decrease and indicate that your senior may be experiencing either a disinterest in food or overuse of food to compensate for feelings of sadness. Oftentimes, people may experience carb cravings and other cravings that will contribute to weight gain in the cooler months. On the flip side, when the sadness of SAD sets in, other people may experience disinterest.
Here again, our amazing caretakers at Senior Helpers of Charleston, who spend a great deal of time with your senior, can help catch a change in appetite and be sure to be there for your senior and encourage them to eat, or not eat quite so much, and help your senior to stay on a positive path with nutrition.
Feelings of Hopelessness or Worthlessness
Lastly, a more dire sign of SAD is feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness. If your senior is exhibiting these signs, it is essential to ascertain how serious they are. SAD often brings feelings of sadness and depression that can leave seniors not wanting to eat, participate in everyday activities, or even take a walk. Senior Helpers of Charleston will be there to help your senior with everyday activities and help to identify when sadness becomes something a little bit more. Our caring and nurturing caretakers are there for your senior to make aging-in-place a positive experience.
Learn More About Seasonal Affective Disorder
As the seasons change and cooler weather descend in the Charleston area, many residents, including seniors, experience Seasonal Affective Disorder. SAD can manifest in many ways including a lack of energy and enthusiasm. They can also experience a change in mood and perspective, lack of sleep, change in eating habits, and much more. Senior Helpers of Charleston, which serves the Charleston, Mt. Pleasant, Moncks Corner, James Island, and Daniel Island area, can help ensure that signs of your senior's Season Affective Disorder are noticed and can help your senior to do little things to handle their SAD each and every day in the best possible way. Contact us to learn more.