Seasonal Affective Disorder: Signs, Causes and Risk Factors

What is Seasonal Affective Disorder?

Depression known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is brought on by a shift in the seasons, usually the arrival of autumn. Before it ends in the warmer springtime days, this seasonal sadness develops stronger in the late autumn or early winter.

The “winter blues,” a mild form of SAD, can also strike you. It’s common to have some depression throughout the winter. Because it becomes dark early, you can be stuck inside.

Full SAD, however, goes beyond this. It is a type of melancholy. SAD impacts your everyday life, including your thoughts and feelings, in contrast to the winter blues. Thankfully, therapy can support you during this difficult period. Seasonal depression may be referred to as seasonal affective disorder by your healthcare professional.

Signs and symptoms

Seasonal affective disorder symptoms typically start in late autumn or early winter and disappear in the spring and summer when the weather gets warmer. Individuals following the reverse pattern, less frequently, get symptoms in the spring or summer. In either scenario, as the season wears on, symptoms could first be moderate before getting worse.

SAD symptoms and indicators could include:

• feeling depressed, hopeless, or hopeless most of the time, almost every day
• losing interest in past hobbies or interests
• feeling lethargic and low in energy
• Having issues with excessive sleep
• Feeling the need for carbohydrates, overindulging, and gaining weight
• Having trouble focusing
• feeling guilty, useless, or hopeless
• Feeling as though life is not worth living.

SAD in the autumn and winter

Winter-onset SAD, commonly known as winter depression, is characterized by the following symptoms:

• sleeping too much
• A shift in appetite, particularly a desire for foods high in carbs
• Gaining weight
• Fatigue or lack of vigour

Is seasonal affective disorder (SAD) common in the summer?

An unusual form of SAD known as “summer depression” affects certain people. It concludes in the autumn after beginning in the late spring or early summer. Compared to seasonal affective disorder, which typically manifests in the winter, it is less prevalent.

SAD in the spring and summer:

Summer-onset seasonal affective disorder, often known as summer depression, is characterized by the following symptoms:

• Lack of sleep (insomnia)
• Insufficient appetite
• Loss of weight
• Anxiety or agitation
• heightened irritation

How prevalent is SAD, or seasonal affective disorder?

In the United States, 5% of adults suffer from SAD. Young adulthood is often when it first appears (generally between the ages of 18 and 30). Researchers are unsure of why SAD affects individuals who are assigned female at birth more than those who are given male at birth.

In America, 10% to 20% of people may experience a milder version of the winter blues.

Causes

Researchers are unsure of the precise reason for seasonal depression. If you are prone to the disease, lack of sunlight may exacerbate it. According to the theories:

• Your biological clock changes when the amount of sunlight decreases. Your internal clock controls hormones, sleep patterns, and mood. When it does, you find yourself out of sync with your routine and unable to adapt to the lengthening of the day.
• Chemical imbalance in the brain: Neurotransmitters are substances in the brain that facilitate communication between nerves. Among these substances is serotonin, which plays a role in happiness. Your serotonin activity may already be lower if you are at risk for SAD. Wintertime deprivation of sunshine can exacerbate the condition since it plays a role in the regulation of serotonin. Depression may result from a further decline in serotonin levels.
• Deficiency in vitamin D: Vitamin D also raises your serotonin levels. Less sun exposure in the winter can result in a vitamin D shortage since sunshine aids in the production of vitamin D. Both your mood and your serotonin levels may be impacted by that shift.
• Boost of melatonin: Melatonin is a hormone that influences mood and sleep cycles. For certain individuals, the absence of sunlight might lead to excess melatonin production. It is possible to feel lethargic and drowsy in the cold.
• Negative thoughts: Stress, anxiety, and negative thoughts about the winter are common in people with SAD. It is unclear to researchers whether these pessimistic attitudes contribute to or are a result of seasonal depression.

Risk Factors

Those with seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and those who identify as female at birth are more likely to be between the ages of 18 and 30. Also, you have a greater risk if you:

• Possess a different mood condition, such as bipolar disorder or severe depressive disorder.

• Having family members who suffer from SAD, other types of depression, or mental illnesses including schizophrenia or serious depression.

• Occupy latitudes that are either far north or far south of the equator. At these latitudes, the winter months get less sunlight.

• Reside in foggy areas.

Diagnoses and Examinations

Don’t attempt self-diagnosis if you exhibit symptoms of seasonal affective disorder (SAD). See your physician for a comprehensive assessment. There could be an additional cause for your depression. Seasonal affective disorder is frequently a component of a more complicated mental health issue.

You can be referred to a psychologist or psychiatrist by your physician. These psychiatrists will question you on your symptoms. They will determine whether you have seasonal depression or another mood disorder based on your symptom pattern. If you want to know if you have SAD, you might have to complete a questionnaire.

Diagnostic procedures

Seasonal depression cannot be diagnosed with a blood test or scan. Nonetheless, to rule out other illnesses that could be causing your symptoms, your doctor might advise testing. One such test would be a thyroid function check to make sure everything is working normally.

Diagnose Conditions

Your physician might identify you as having SAD if you have:

• signs of severe depression.

• Episodes of depression that last for at least two years during particular seasons.

• Experiences of depression occur more frequently in a particular season than they do in the other months.

Treatment

You and your provider will discuss available treatments. You might require a mix of therapies, such as:

• Light therapy: SAD can be treated with bright light therapy, which uses a specific lamp.

• Talk therapy falls under the category of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Studies have demonstrated that it is the most effective treatment for SAD, with the longest-lasting results.

• Antidepressant medication: Physicians may suggest antidepressant medication in addition to light therapy or on its own for treating depression.

• Time spent outside: Increasing your exposure to sunlight can help alleviate your discomfort. Make an effort to leave during the day. Additionally, let more natural light into your house or place of business.

• Vitamin D: If you take a vitamin D pill, your symptoms can get better. Consult your healthcare provider before beginning this supplement.

Prevention

You might not be able to stop SAD’s initial episode. However, if your doctor identifies you with seasonal depression, you can take action to treat it more effectively or perhaps stop it from returning.

• Use your lightbox: Before you get symptoms of SAD, begin using light treatment in the early autumn.
• Get outside: Even on dreary days, spend some time outside each day. Daylight can improve your mood.
• Eat nutrient-dense meals: Resist the urge to indulge in sugary and starchy foods, even though your body may be begging you to. You can get the right nutrition and energy from eating meals high in vitamins and minerals.
• Make an effort to work out for 30 minutes three times a week at the minimum. Your symptoms of SAD may be exacerbated by stress and worry, which exercise helps to ease.
• View your friends: Continue to participate in normal activities and your social group. They can offer assistance in the wintertime.
• Seek assistance: Think about consulting a CBT-trained mental health practitioner. When treating seasonal affective disorder, this therapy can be rather successful.
• Think about drugs: Consult your physician about starting an antidepressant. If your symptoms are severe or persist even after various therapies, medication may be able to assist. In certain situations, starting the drug before the onset of SAD can stop bouts.

Consult your physician to determine whether beginning therapy early as a preventative approach is appropriate for you.

When to visit a physician

It’s common to experience depressive days occasionally. See your doctor, nevertheless, if your depression lasts for several days at a time and you find it difficult to find the motivation to engage in your regular activities. This is particularly crucial if you have altered eating and sleep habits, drink alcohol to unwind or find solace, feel hopeless, or consider taking your own life.