The weather is changing outside and so is everyone else. Some people are changing their clothes from their summer gear to their fall gear. Some are partaking in their favorite fall activities like pumpkin picking, hayrides, and haunted houses. For some, they are becoming lethargic, depressed, and unmotivated. Those people are suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder.
Seasonal Affective Disorder, or commonly known as SAD, is a type of depression related to the changing of the seasons. It begins and ends at relatively the same time every year, with fall being when most SAD symptoms start to show. Some symptoms include feelings of consistent depression, feeling hopeless or worthless, lethargy, disinterest in activities you once enjoyed, sleeping problems, appetite and weight changes, irritability, and difficulty concentrating – to name a few.
The most common type of SAD is known as winter depression, affecting up to half a million people every year between September and April. The specific causes are still unknown but there has been some suggestion that a person’s level of serotonin and melatonin correlates with SAD.
Here are some facts about Seasonal Affective Disorder:
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SAD occurs more commonly in females
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The men that do have SAD, tend to have more severe symptoms
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Younger people have a higher risk of SAD
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SAD is more common in those who live far from the equator
In my college career, being at a school that can reach negative ten degrees on a good day, I have witnessed and experienced Seasonal Affective Disorder. The Winter Depression, in some ways, gets to everyone but some experience it worse than others. While some may just feel sluggish for a day, others feel sluggish for weeks, even months. Each case of SAD is different, just like each individual is different. I was diagnosed with SAD my freshmen year of college when getting out of bed, doing things I enjoyed, and getting my work done was a constant struggle. It isn’t that I didn’t want to do it, I just physically could not get myself to do it. All I wanted was to curl up with my blanket and sleep.
Some helpful tips to dealing with Seasonal Affective Disorder would be to firstly get as much natural sunlight as possible. Take short walks outside, open up the blinds in your apartment or room, or even try painting your room with lighter colors or wearing lighter colors. Another tip would be to exercise regularly. Exercise can boost serotonin and endorphins!
Sources: 1 2 If you are someone who struggles with SAD, know that you are not alone and there are counselors and tips to help you with it!