Seasonal Affective Disorder

Seasonal Affective Disorder

December 14, 2022
The "winter blues" may accompany the arrival of winter. The transition from sunny and warm weather to cloudy and cool weather can cause the winter blu...

What is SAD? 

‍SAD is a type of depression that happens when the seasons change. It’s also called seasonal depression. Most symptoms begin in the fall and last through the winter months. Less commonly, SAD can happen in the summer season.

It’s most likely caused by lower levels of sunlight in the fall and winter seasons. Less sunlight is linked to vitamin D deficiency, lower levels of serotonin (the “happy” hormone), and higher levels of melatonin (the “sleep” hormone). All of these are linked to depression.

‍Sign and symptoms 

  • Feeling depressed for most of the day, almost every day
  • Feeling hopeless
  • Loss of energy
  • Losing interest in the activities once enjoyed
  • Sleeping problems
  • Having changes in appetite
  • Feeling sluggish
  • Having thoughts of death or suicide

Specific winter symptoms of SAD include

  • Having low energy
  • Sleeping too much
  • Overeating; craving sweet and starchy foods
  • Weight gain
  • Avoiding social contact

Who is more likely to get SAD?

  • Women
  • Young adults ages 18-30
  • People who live far north or south of the equator.
  • People who have a family history of depression.
  • People who have depression or bipolar disorder.

Treatment and prevention

  • Sunlight. If the sun is out, go outside to get some natural sunlight! This helps your body produce vitamin D and serotonin, which can boost your mood.
  • Exercise. Staying physically active is a good way to reduce SAD symptoms. Exercise can increase serotonin and endorphins, which are hormones that help boost your mood.
  • Light therapy. Light therapy uses artificial light from lightboxes to copy natural sunlight. This therapy can help manage the release of melatonin, the “sleep” hormone. You will spend a prescribed amount of time looking at the lightbox every day.
  • Psychotherapy. Psychotherapy is talk therapy that is done with a mental health provider. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of psychotherapy that is effective in treating SAD.
  • Medication. If the above therapies don’t work, talk to your mental health provider about taking antidepressants.

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