Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Recognizes Seasonal Affective Disorder Awareness Month

Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Jesse Sharpe | Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Recognizes Seasonal Affective Disorder Graphic courtesy of DHA  

BETHESDA, MD, UNITED STATES

12.22.2022

Story by Vernishia Vaughn 

Walter Reed National Military Medical Center

Bethesda, Maryland (December 22, 2022) – 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

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About Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
The Walter Reed National Military Medical Center is one of the nation's largest and most renowned military medical centers. Recently dubbed "The Nation's Medical Center," we represent the joining of the "Best of the Best" in military medicine when National Naval Medical Center and Walter Reed Army Medical Center came together in September of 2011, to form Walter Reed National Military Medical Center as decreed by the Base Realignment and Closure law of 2005.
We are comprised of nearly 7,100 dedicated staff members who make it their daily mission to achieve the vision and mission of our medical center. Our vision is to serve military families and our nation's active duty, returning war heroes, veterans and our Nation's leaders.
We’re committed to operational readiness, outstanding customer service, and world-class health care delivery for our beneficiaries.

• Date Taken: 12.22.2022
• Date Posted: 12.23.2022 16:12
• Story ID: 435776
• Location: BETHESDA, MD, US