WRNMMC, Bethesda, MD  –   December is seasonal affective disorder awareness month (SAD), also known as seasonal depression, a mental health challenge many faces as colder weather appears, and Dr. Kalim A. Alcover-Pabon, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center's (WRNMMC) clinical psychologist, shares his expertise and advice for those experiencing SAD.
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"[SAD] is a condition that is characterized by its recurrent seasonal pattern. Once winter starts, people may begin overeating, oversleeping, and experience a social withdraw that's sort of like hibernating," said Alcover-Pabon. "It typically lasts four to five months per year."

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), SAD symptoms include sleeping or overeating, withdrawing from social contact, feeling depressed nearly every day, feeling hopeless or worthless, being unable to focus, and not having any energy.
 
To combat SAD, Alcover-Pabon said WRNMMC, and their outside counterparts offer services and resources to help beneficiaries cope.
 
"For our active duty service members with Walter Reed as their prime facility, they can contact the Adult Outpatient Behavioral Health Clinic," shared Alcover-Pabone. "We offer individual and group therapy and psychotropic medication management."
 
Alcover-Pabon says in addition to what's offered at WRNNMC, beneficiaries and their families can contact Military OneSource and Military and Family Life Counseling (MFLC) for assistance.
 
He also encourages anyone who thinks they may suffer from SAD to reach out to a WRNMMC health care provider.
 
If you or someone you know is in immediate distress or is thinking about hurting themselves, call The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, available 24/7 at 988 for free and confidential support.
 
To learn more about services offered at WRNMMC Behavioral Health, visit https://walterreed.tricare.mil/Health-Services/Mental-Health-and-Substance-Abuse/Adult-Outpatient-Behavioral-Health

To learn more about how you can help yourself or someone you know cope with SAD, visit https://www.mentalhealth.gov/what-to-look-for/mood-disorders/sad

For more information on the National Institute of Mental Health SAD brochure and fact sheet, visit https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/seasonal-affective-disorder