Seasonal affective disorder, also known as seasonal depression, winter depression, and SAD, is a type of depression that occurs with the changing seasons. The Diagnostic Manual of Mental Disorders V (DSM-5) identifies this disorder as major depressive disorder with seasonal pattern and those with SAD experience mood changes and symptoms that are more than just the “winter blues.”
Overview of Seasonal Depression
According to the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), about four to six percent of people have winter depression, and about another ten to twenty percent of people might have a mild form of seasonal affective disorder. SAD is characterized by a change in mood that is triggered by the different seasons but is usually associated with the arrival of fall and winter.
While it is normal for people to feel a little down during these seasons, as it’s typically cold and gets dark early, the onset of seasonal depression can affect a person’s daily life in their thoughts and behaviors. SAD does tend to go away in the spring and summer months, but some people do experience the opposite, where they have depression in spring/summer but not in fall/winter.
SAD affects women four times more often than men. It also typically develops when people are in their twenties or thirties and is seen in more people the further North you go. Seasonal depression is generally thought to be linked to fewer daylight hours, which occurs during fall/winter and the further away people are from the equator. The changes in daylight hours can disrupt a person’s circadian rhythm and sleep schedules, which can greatly impact mood.
Symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder
Seasonal affective disorder is defined by a prolonged feeling of sadness that occurs with the changing seasons and symptoms can vary from mild to severe. Symptoms of SAD are those generally associated with major depressive disorder, as it is categorized as a type of depression and not a standalone disorder. The following are the general symptoms of seasonal depression.
- Extreme feelings of sadness, most days of the week
- Low energy and/or excessive fatigue
- Feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness, or guilt
- Irritability or anxiety
- Inability to concentrate
- Loss of interest in activities once enjoyed and withdrawing from social activities
- Changes in appetite and/or weight
People can experience more specific symptoms of winter-onset SAD and summer-onset SAD.
Specific symptoms of Fall and Winter SAD:
- Oversleeping, also known as hypersomnia
- Appetite changes, particularly overeating and craving foods high in carbohydrates
- Weight gain
- Feeling tired most of the time
Specific symptoms of Spring and Summer SAD:
- Trouble sleeping, also known as insomnia
- Decreased appetite that may lead to weight loss
- Restlessness and/or agitation
In order to be diagnosed with seasonal depression, you must experience the symptoms listed above and have depressive episodes during a specific season, with symptoms waning in the other seasons, for at least two consecutive years.
Diagnosis and Treatment of SAD
To receive a diagnosis of seasonal depression, you need to see a healthcare professional to have an examination performed. There is a chance that the symptoms you are experiencing are related to another condition and this should be determined before engaging with any treatments. If you have met the criteria for seasonal affective disorder then one way you may be treated is with light therapy, which is one of the most frequently used methods for SAD.
Light therapy involves sitting in front of a special light box or using a light visor that you wear on your head. For this form of treatment, you will sit in front of the light box every day, usually during the morning when you start your day. On average, you will use the light box for about thirty to forty-five minutes a day, throughout the fall and winter seasons. Most people will start to notice a difference within the first week or two.
There are other methods healthcare professionals can turn to, as well, and a holistic doctor will take a mind, body, and spirit approach to improve your overall health, which should lead to an improvement in any depressive moods related to SAD.
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