Why is it that as soon as the weather lifts in temperature, and the snow begins melting off the ground, we feel an elevation in our mood? We begin to feel happy and the day is conquerable. But what is Seasonal Depression, or, Seasonal Affective Disorder?
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), as defined by the Mayo Health Clinic, is “A type of depression that is related to the changes in seasons. Symptoms typically appear in the fall, continue through the winter months, and eventually go away in the spring or summer.”
For most, this holds to be true, the winter season comes in along with the darkness of long nights and short days. Suddenly classes get twice as hard, and you’re left with little time afterward to get a nice dinner, to hang out with friends outside, or to even step out of the house without freezing a limb off.
But as the year progresses and the sun sticks around a little longer, it seems those trivial troubles lighten and life doesn’t seem nearly as hard.
What can be difficult though, is defining the point in where: Is this just the ‘winter blues’ or it is SAD? If you find yourself asking this question consider some of the symptoms that come along with it:
- Changes in sleep and appetite
- Oversleeping
- Overeating, craving carbs and salty foods
- Decreased energy, fatigue, feeling slow throughout the day
- Social withdrawal.
- Physical pain throughout the body including:
- Cramps
- Headaches
- Digestive Issues
- Aches and pains in the limbs
- Emotions of hopelessness
- Frustration, irritability
- Feelings of sadness, anxiety, or “empty’ moods
- And even thoughts of death and suicide.
But what causes SAD? What within our bodies and minds changes to cause all of these symptoms?
The causes of SAD are still unknown, there is no clear answer to what causes it in most people but studies have found that people with SAD have “reduced levels of the brain chemical serotonin,” said the National Institute of Mental Health.
This could possibly be linked to a reduction in Vitamin D from the sun, lowering serotonin levels. The less sun we get in the winter months, the sadder we become.
Several other studies suggest that SAD could be related to changes in sleep patterns, longer winter nights equate to more sleep. This means that many people have higher levels of melatonin production during the colder season, leading to an increase in sleepiness and oversleeping.
Seasonal Affective Disorder is still a disorder, while it doesn’t have a direct cause treatment options are still available if you find yourself identifying with any of the symptoms.
Interestingly enough, light therapy is a proven method that aids in relieving symptoms of SAD. This entails sitting in front of a light therapy box that emits UV light for around 20 minutes.
Another method includes certain SSRIs or antidepressants but these should only be used in more severe cases where you find symptoms persist outside of the cold season.
Something daily you can do to raise your serotonin levels is maintain a regular sleep schedule throughout the year, rearrange your space to allow your common areas to absorb the most sunlight during day hours, and spend time with friends and family when it may be difficult to do outside activities.