Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that begins as sunlight dwindles in the fall and continues into the dark winter months. These “winter blues,” which are more common among people with ADHD, cause feelings of sadness and depression, sap energy and motivation, and bring changes to sleep patterns. Reduced sunlight in the winter is thought to disrupt the body’s internal clock, leading to:

• Feelings of depression

• A drop in serotonin, the brain’s feel-good chemical

• A disruption in melatonin levels, which play a role in sleep disturbances

Chronotherapy is a SAD treatment that works by resetting the biological clock in the brain to alter the sleep-wake cycle and to lift mood. This can be done in combination with treatment modalities including sleep-hygiene, melatonin, and light therapy. New research is also illuminating the effect of light therapy on ADHD symptoms as well as SAD. In one study from prof. Kooij’s team involving delayed sleep phase syndrome, the most common sleep disturbance in adults with ADHD, chronotherapy with melatonin reduced ADHD symptoms by 14 percent.

In this webinar, you will learn:

• How to recognize seasonal mood changes and their effects on ADHD symptoms

• The ways in which late sleep patterns affects circadian rhythm and SAD

• How chronic sleep deprivation affects your health

• About therapies and strategies to improve mood, energy, and sleep during the winter months

  Register here: https://www.additudemag.com/webinar/seasonal-affective-disorder-depression-adhd/

This class uncovers how our cultural identities and experiences shape the way we make meaning of the world and relate to others. Outcomes are usually improved when services are adapted to a person’s cultural needs and preferences. As such, effective workers can skillfully navigate cultural conversations, and form sustainable working relationships with the people they support. This training looks at practical strategies for learning about an individual within the context of their culture. One of the specific strategies is the DSM 5 Cultural Formulation tool. 

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According to the CDC, drug overdose deaths have increased by nearly 5% from 2018 to 2019. Over 70% of the 70,630 deaths in 2019 involved an opioid. Staff, peers, and others who have served and supported those experiencing addictions are not always allowed to grieve when their clients and patients die. They may also find it more challenging to process the loss. Grief is a normal response to drug overdose deaths, and sorrow can happen in response to death and non-death losses. This interactive webinar will explore the various components of grief and loss. It will encourage employers to create "workplace grieving spaces" for employees to grieve when it seems improper. It will also help participants identify healthier ways of grieving, coping, and healing after a loss. FREE

Register here (Will need to make a NADAC account)

This webinar will discuss principles and strategies for clinical supervisors to help promote the professional success of individual treatment providers who are in personal long-term recovery. Topics highlighted include common dynamics that workers in recovery navigate, such as encountering recipients of services in the community and self-disclosure. The presentation will provide guidance and suggestions for addressing those in clinical supervision who are also in recovery.

Register here