Month: October 2015

What Is Seasonal Affective Disorder?

depressed womanAutumn is in full swing and that means cooler temps, falling leaves and shorter days are upon us. As the season begins to progress and we see even more changes, some of us may begin to feel the ‘blues’ because we are spending less time outdoors, which means we aren’t soaking in as much vitamin D from the sun and that can affect us in a few different ways. Our emotions may change but when it gets to the point where we are feeling depressed it could be due to Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Seasonal Affective Disorder is something that is more common than you think and its onset typically begins between the months of September through November and continues until the spring time. It’s a type of depression that’s related to the changes in season and as temporary as those are, SAD can sometimes last longer than a few seasons. Some individual start to experience symptoms where their moods are a little off course from their norm. They may have a lack of energy for daily tasks, have problems concentrating, sleep problems and may feel sad, hopeless or low. It can continue with being irritable around others, having panic or anxiety attacks and they may even turn to drug or alcohol abuse.

What Causes SAD?

While the exact causes of SAD are unclear, there are many theories as to why it happens. One theory involves light and when the season transitions into the fall and winter, we typically are exposed to less amounts of sunlight. When light travels through the back of the retina, messages are sent to the brain that regulates things like sleep, mood, appetite and sex drive. If there is a lack of light, these functions may change, which disrupts the way an individual functions.

Another theory points at low levels of serotonin which is a chemical in the brain. People who suffer from depression generally have lower levels of serotonin and if the brain’s system isn’t absorbing enough serotonin, it could disrupt mood. Additionally, SAD could occur due to a disrupted circadian rhythm and that’s your body’s internal clock.  It’s responsible for keeping your body on a sleep/wake cycle and if the season brings about less sunlight, it could disrupt the circadian rhythm.

How To Treat SAD

There are a couple of different ways to treat this type of depression and one viable option could be speaking with a psychotherapist like Stuart MacFarlane a Jungian analyst who uses open discussion treatment methods that help the individual talk through their issues. This can help someone discuss what’s bothering them and to gather resources from within. Another treatment method includes taking in as much natural light as possible or using a light box while indoors. This exposure of natural light can help alleviate the symptoms. However, if you are feeling a little down and have noticed your feelings changing as the season changes, you may want to speak with a psychologist to discuss it further.

Analytical Psychology Concepts

Analytical Psychology: Jungian Concepts

The forefather of analytical psychology was Professor Carl Jung, who developed the theory that wholeness of the personality was the goal of life, and that analysis of unconscious content through dream interpretation and “ could play an important role in that process.

Through attention to, and the study of the individual’s dreams, unconscious content is brought into consciousness. This leads to a more creative and harmonious balance between the unconscious and the conscious mind.

With that said, there are a few psychotherapy concepts involved in this branch of psychology which include active imagination, individuation, collective unconscious, shadow, logos and nekyia. Read on to learn about each concept!

Active Imagination

The concept of active imagination is a way to bridge the gap between the conscious and the unconscious mind. Through imagination, fantasy, dreams and mediation, a person could wake their unconscious into the present through story or action. This is where someone tries to interpret the contents of their dreams without analyzing it with their conscious mind. It allows for undirected observation of their imagination instead of being an image of their desires.

Individuation

The individuation process is where an individual develops into whom they truly are supposed to be but becoming your true self is often a challenge. Some individuals with emotional struggles will often feel like their lives are fragmented and disjointed to varying degrees of emotional experiences. To combat this, individuation integrates a person’s positive and negative experiences in a way where they can live a healthy and productive life with emotional stability.

Collective Unconscious

The collective unconscious was coined by Carl Jung and describes an expression from the unconscious that’s exhibited by every living being with a nervous system. Instead of only having experiences from our psyche, the collective unconscious sorts and organizes all experiences. It holds mental images that can’t be explained historically, but only exist as an evolutionary by-product according to Good Therapy.

Logos

Logos represent fact or reason where it ‘contrasts between conscious versus unconscious as logos versus mythos.’ Jung also believed that logos was the male counterpart for rationality and the female version was eros, which represented psychic accessibility or sentiment.

Nekyia

One of the key components to analytic psychotherapy according to Jung is Nekyia. This concept is the process of diving into the unconscious to deliberate or make a decisive action. Jung believed this concept was a ‘dark journey into a dangerous place’ that was essential to achieve individuation.

These concepts are necessary steps in the process of analytical psychology and many who practice this method of psychotherapy like Stuart MacFarlane, an analyst, have used these concepts to help patients achieve balance. This method of psychotherapy has helped people who suffer from depression, anxiety, bereavement, bipolar disorder and drug & alcohol addiction overcome their struggles, making it a versatile therapy tool.