As we move into the darker months, it’s important to pay attention to mental health. Seasonal Affective Disorder impacts many people in Utah and the holidays can be hard for those who already feel unhappy or isolated. 

While there are many ways to combat the effects of SAD including going outside during daytime hours, making self-care a priority, eating well, planning events with family or friends and getting regular exercise, sometimes the combination of gloomy weather and long nights makes it hard to bounce back. 

For those who struggle with SAD, NeuroHealth Manager Jason Corbridge said there is help available. NeuroHealth is a clinic that specializes in treating depression and mental health issues with transcranial magnetic stimulation. Corbridge said TMS is an easy procedure with minimal side effects.

“Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD, is very common in states such as Utah that see a huge swing in seasonal temperament and the holiday seasons can be especially hard,” he said. “At NeuroHealth, we specialize in treating major depressive disorder and depressive anxiety and we actively do everything we can to push the discussion of mental health, recognizing potentially harsh times and mitigating the effects of seasonal depression.”

Symptoms of SAD include low energy, social withdrawal, fatigue and oversleeping, an increase in feelings of depression and anxiety, low energy, weight gain, trouble concentrating and even suicidal ideation. 

Low serotonin or melatonin levels can contribute to SAD, as well as genetics, less sunlight, grief, loneliness and biological clock shifts. But every person is different and responds to seasonal change differently.

NeuroHealth’s groundbreaking TMS treatment is a non-invasive process using magnetic pulses to improve nerve cells in the brain. Corbridge said TMS is an FDA-approved treatment that is easy and effective and usually covered by health insurance.

“If you are already suffering from depression and are anxiously looking at the incoming weather we are bound to get over the next three to four months, give us a call,” he said.

Because each person’s struggle is unique, the professionals at NeuroHealth make sure patients receive the individualized help they need to get through SAD. Along with TMS treatment, NeuroHealth also uses ketamine therapy in a controlled setting. Considered an emerging treatment for depression, ketamine is an option for people dealing with treatment-resistant depression.

Board-certified psychiatrist Dr. Thomas Rayner, MD, is an advocate for mental health and is one of the foremost TMS providers for the state. He is one of the NeuroHealth professionals and is committed to helping patients find their way back to wellness. NeuroHealth is located at 10437 S. Temple Drive in South Jordan. To learn more about TMS and treatment options, visit NeuroHealthUtah.com.

Corbridge said there is no reason to go through another winter season full of dread, anxiety, stress and depression.

“Come see us and let’s talk about potential treatment options that can get you to a better place before the gloomy weather rolls around,” he said. “If we can’t help you, we will get you to someone who can.”