Sunday is Daylight Saving Time and while we gain an hour of sleep this weekend, we begin to lose daylight in the evening, causing longer, darker days. To some, this can be a very challenging time of year. According to the Cleveland Clinic, 10 million Americans suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder, the severity of which could be compounded by pandemic depression.
NY1's Roma Torre spoke with Dr. Jessica Stern, clinical psychologist at NYU Langone, about how to combat seasonal depression and pandemic depression, and how important it is to connect during these polarizing times.
Individuals suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder tend to retreat, but keeping up with connections is key. Stern said this requires a little bit more creativity with social distancing.
"There's an urge to disconnect from people when we're feeling depressed, and so it can be really important to maintain a constant communication with other people. This could be virtual watch parties through Netflix or Hulu or send your friends or family take out that you can share over the screen."
Other suggestions to combating seasonal and pandemic depression include maintaining routines and getting regular exercise.