Seasonal Affective Disorder and What It Does

October 9th, 2009

You may find that every year, you feel gloomy and lethargic around the wintertime. Holiday cheer seems to be nearly impossible, or fleeting at best. Some people call it the winter blues, but seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a very real thing that can disrupt healthy living.

SAD affects thousands of people each year from all around the country. For some, they have been struggling with it their entire lives. For others, the feelings of SAD are new and foreign after relocating to a new home in a different city or state. Whatever the case, SAD causes those affected to feel the same symptoms. People affected by SAD may sleep too much, have a lack of energy, or exhibit signs of clinical depression, including anxiety, lack of interest and focus, and a drastic change in eating habits, according to the Mayo Clinic. These symptoms can severely interfere with an individual’s day-to-day activities, making routine things like going to work or school seem like a burden. It can also affect an individual’s academic performance, as well as negatively affect his or her social relationships. One of the explanations for the SAD phenomenon is the shorter days and lack of sunlight during the winter months. For this reason, in the United States, SAD is most common in the northern states where winter months are typically dark and devoid of sunlight in comparison to the year-round sunny climates of southern states, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Other explanations for SAD is the change in melatonin levels with the changing of the seasons, as well as the drop of serotonin levels. All of these factors may contribute to the phenomenon of SAD.

If you find yourself suffering from depression symptoms during set times each year, then you may suffer from SAD. Luckily, there have been some promising treatments developed for those with this condition. Light therapy is one of most common treatments for those with SAD. Those undergoing this treatment simply sit by a specialized light therapy box and bask in the glow of the bright light. The light is thought to mimic sunshine, which lifts the moods of those with SAD. Some medications, such as antidepressants, can be prescribed as well during the duration of the symptoms. All in all, if you truly suffer from SAD, your symptoms should vanish with the transition into a new season. However, if your symptoms are too difficult to handle, you should consider consulting with your physician for treatment options.

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