WHAT IS SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER?

Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is depression caused by changes in seasons that affects about 10 million Americans.

Most people with SAD experience symptoms, such as feeling moody or drained of energy, starting in fall that continue through the winter months. Less often, SAD can occur in the spring or early summer.

Though symptoms can start mild, they may worsen as the season progresses. Some medications, light therapy and psychotherapy may be used in treating SAD.

“Don’t brush off that yearly feeling as simply a case of the ‘winter blues’ or a seasonal funk that you have to tough out on your own,” according to the Mayo Clinic.

“Take steps to keep your mood and motivation steady throughout the year. ... It’s normal to have some days when you feel down. But if you feel down for days at a time and you can’t get motivated to do activities you normally enjoy, see your doctor. This is especially important if your sleep patterns and appetite have changed, you turn to alcohol for comfort or relaxation, or you feel hopeless or think about suicide.”

Signs and symptoms

h Feeling depressed most of the day, nearly every day

h Losing interest in activities you once enjoyed h Having low energy h Having problems with sleeping h Experiencing changes in your appetite or weight h Feeling sluggish or agitated h Having difficulty concentrating h Feeling hopeless, worthless guilty

h Having frequent thoughts of death or suicide

Fall and winter SAD symptoms

or h Oversleeping h Appetite changes, especially a craving for foods high in carbohydrates hweight gain h Tiredness or low energy

Spring and summer SAD symptoms

h Symptoms specific to summer-onset seasonal affective disorder, sometimes called summer depression, may include: h Trouble sleeping (insomnia) h Poor appetite hweight loss h Agitation or anxiety

Causes

h A disruption of your biological clock (circadian rhythm) due to reduced sunlight in fall and winter. This can lead to feelings of depression.

h Reduced sunlight can also result in a drop in serotonin, a brain chemical that affects mood.

h Seasonal changes can also affect melatonin balance, which can disrupt normal sleep patterns .

Those who have a family history of SAD or another type of depression, or live far from the equator (where light is reduced during long winter and summer months) are at increased risk of SAD. “Having major depression or bipolar disorder. Symptoms of depression may worsen seasonally if you have one of these conditions.”

Complications

h Social withdrawal h School or work problems h Substance abuse h Other mental health disorders such as anxiety or eating disorders

h Suicidal thoughts or behavior

MORE CONTENT NOW Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a kind of depression caused by changes in seasons. Reduced sunlight in winter months can affect your biological clock and brain chemicals that influence mood and sleep patterns.