Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a mood disorder closely related to clinical depression. It carries all of the same symptoms, but unlike regular depression, it is closely tied to a particular time of the year. In other words, people with SAD will experience symptoms of depression during a particular season each year, and have no symptoms for the remainder of the year.
Known by many people somewhat misleadingly as the ‘Winter Blues,’ SAD can be psychologically crippling to those who suffer from it, negatively affecting their daily lives and interactions with others. While it is common to feel slightly melancholy when the weather is cold, people with SAD suffer much more acutely.
While Seasonal Affective Disorder can affect anyone, women and young people seem to be most susceptible. The cause is unknown, but many experts believe that it is related to our internal clocks, or circadian rhythms. Just as wild animals tend to be less active in the winter, our bodies tell us to slow down when the weather gets cold. More specifically, some experts have tied SAD to the production of a brain chemical called melatonin. The production of this chemical is generally higher during the winter months.
Most people experience SAD in the months surrounding winter, from about September to April, when natural light is less intense and lasts for fewer hours of the day. For most people, symptoms are worst around the beginning of the year, in January and February. A very small portion of SAD sufferers has symptoms associated with the summer months, but this is highly unusual.
The severity of SAD symptoms varies from person to person. Most people experience relatively mild symptoms that can usually be treated by spending extra time outdoors or through artificial light therapy. A smaller (but still substantial) group of people suffers from full-blown depressive episodes. People with such severe symptoms might require professional treatment or antidepressants in order to cope with the disorder.
SAD symptoms can be divided into three broad categories: energy-related issues, emotional distress and eating problems. (Again, all of the symptoms are features of clinical depression, but SAD symptoms are seasonal.) The chief energy-related symptom is sleep schedule disruption. Some people will feel compelled to sleep far more than usual. Others will suffer from insomnia and become tired during the day. Still others might feel overcome by lethargy, or an extreme lack of energy.
People with SAD also commonly experience various forms of emotional distress. Feelings of general unhappiness or misery are typical symptoms. Other forms of psychological discomfort are also common. A sense of heightened anxiety is one example. Antisocial behavior is another; people with SAD often feel unusually reclusive. Abrupt mood swings is another frequent complaint, as is decreased libido.
Finally, Seasonal Affective Disorder often causes eating problems. Most frequently, this will take the form of overeating, especially of sugary or starch-laden foods. (Loss of appetite is another symptom, although it is less common.) Overeating often causes weight gain, which only intensifies the person’s feelings of unhappiness and tiredness.
If you have noticed that these symptoms occur seasonally in yourself or someone you know, help is available. Light therapy solutions (including special light bulbs and lamps) are available at most hardware stores, or you can seek professional help from your family doctor.
