Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or the “winter blues” is a form of depression that develops in response to the seasonal changes that commonly impacts individuals during and fall or winter months.
According to statistics, approximately 4% to 6% of all people within the United States suffer from severe bouts of seasonal affective disorder in the fall and winter months. It is believed that up to another 20% of the nation’s total population suffers from a mild form of the seasonal depression disorder.
According to professionals in the medical field, it is believed that this issue develops as a response to the shorter days or shorter amounts of sunlight that occur during fall and winter. If you suffer from seasonal affective disorder, you are likely to benefit – immensely – from massage therapy.
SAD Symptoms
Individuals that suffer from seasonal affective disorder may experience a multitude of symptoms. Not all symptoms are experienced by all sufferers; however, the following outlines the symptoms that are experienced by most:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Mood Fluctuations
- Sleep Issues
- Lethargy
- Overeating
- Loss of Libido
- Social Issues
- Muscle Tension
- Body Aches and Pain
- Lower Stress Tolerance
Massage Therapy Helps SAD Sufferers
Massage therapy consists of applying pressure to, rubbing of, and the general manipulation of the skin, the tendons, the muscles, and the ligaments. Light strokes or deep levels of pressure may be applied to achieve the end result of the therapy.
The most common types of massage therapy include deep massage, Swedish massage, massage of the trigger points of the body, and sports massage. Massage therapy is considered to be a complementary form of medicine. It is also considered to be an integrative form of medicine.
It is used to help individuals with a wide range of physiological and psychological issues. In terms of seasonal affective disorder sufferers, it helps in the following:
- Massage therapy has been proven to provide instant relief of stress
- Individuals that suffer from depression have been found to reap many rewards from massage
- Anxiety levels may be instantly reduced
- Tension within the muscles may be drastically reduced
- Sleep problems seem to dwindle following massage therapy
- When treated with massage, individuals experience lower blood pressure levels
- Massage aids in promoting relaxation
- Blood flow and circulation is optimized throughout the body
- Oxygen levels in the blood and to the organs is improved
- Individuals seem to experience an overall sense of well-being after massage therapy
Complications of SAD
If you suffer from seasonal affective disorder, you may experience one or many complications associated with the condition.
These include social withdrawal, problems with school or work, the development of a substance abuse disorder, the development of an additional disorder – such as an eating disorder, weight gain, weight loss, irritability, and mood swings that negatively impact your relationships with others.
Additionally, you may start engaging in risky behaviors or experience suicidal thoughts or tendencies.
To overcome the symptoms of SAD and to avoid the complications of the condition, visit the following today to discover a massage therapist in Augusta that can help you: https://chiropractic4augusta.com/contact-chiropractic-augusta/