Seasonal Affective Disorder

Have you ever noticed feeling depressed in the winter and you don't know why? You just don't feel like yourself, and your mood is not great. Many people experience mood changes when winter approaches and the days begin to get darker and colder, especially if you live somewhere with a noticeable change in seasons. But if these mood changes are impacting your daily life, motivation, and thoughts, Seasonal Affective Disorder may be what you're experiencing.

What is Seasonal Affective Disorder?

Seasonal Affective Disorder is a form of depression correlated with changes in season. The disorder consistently begins and ends at approximately the same time of year every year, and many people go through it. For most, symptoms will begin in autumn and last through the winter months. It is possible to develop SAD in the warmer seasons of spring and summer, and then begin to feel better as the weather gets colder in autumn or winter, but this type of SAD is rare.

Is SAD a real disorder?

Now you may be thinking, everyone gets sad in the winter, big deal right? Wrong. SAD is a very real condition and has been recognized as a major depressive disorder by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders.(1)

SAD is a real form of depression

People who experience SAD can have symptoms that greatly impact their daily lives, similar to other mental health conditions. SAD greatly inhibits motivation and can cause people to lose touch with their close relations and even with themselves while affected. Many psychiatrists and clinicians are familiar with the condition, and it has been recognized as a very real form of depression.(1)

Six percent of the US population experiences SAD in its fullest form, while another fourteen percent goes through a less severe form of seasonal mood changes, known as winter blues.(1) Most people affected by SAD live in northern climates, which makes sense if you think about it. Winter can be brutal when you're far up North. SAD affects people all over the world, and is even more pervasive outside the US in Northern countries like Norway.(1)

Is Seasonal Affective Disorder a mental illness?

SAD is not considered to be within a separate category of mental illness but is a form of depression, a very well-known mental health condition. Thus, many of the symptoms of SAD are similar to symptoms of major depression.

How long does SAD last?

SAD is a seasonal condition and lasts about four to five months, typically beginning in the fall and ending in the spring.

What are the symptoms of SAD?

• Feeling depressed every day, for the majority of the day
• A lack of energy; fatigue
• Oversleeping
• Losing interest in activities, relationships, etc.
• Overeating and gaining weight
• Issues concentrating
• Feelings of despair and dejection
• Suicidal thoughts

When do SAD symptoms start?

Symptoms of SAD, in most cases, begin to take effect as the weather changes in the fall and winter approaches. As the seasons change, many people start experiencing feelings of depression and the accompanying symptoms of SAD.

What causes SAD?

Seasonal Affective Disorder may have many causes such as less socializing and human contact during the winter months, the cold and unpleasant weather, and the days feeling shorter. It is hard to pinpoint what exactly is behind the condition. It's most likely a combination of many things.

One thing we know that is a sure factor in the equation is the lack of sunlight in the winter months. As we know, the sun rises later and sets earlier in the winter, and there is less daylight. But also, even during the day, the sun is much weaker in Northern climates during the winter. The sun is actually necessary for many of the reactions going on in our bodies. Not having sunlight can disrupt serotonin and melatonin, affecting mood and sleep patterns.(2) It is also the major cause of Vitamin D deficiency in the winter.

What is the best treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder?

One current treatment for SAD is medication. (1)But if you're looking for a natural and more simple way to help alleviate symptoms of SAD, many studies have shown that supplementing with vitamins can help reduce symptoms of mental health conditions like anxiety and depression.

Why do vitamins work?

It is quite common for Americans to be deficient in nutrients because of poor diet, especially vitamins, minerals, and Omega 3 fatty acids. Many mental health conditions are actually linked to severe deficiencies in these essential nutrients. According to research published in the Indian Journal of Psychiatry, many studies have shown that supplementing daily with vitamins and/or amino acids is often effective in helping reduce symptoms of mental health disorders like depression.(3)