Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
As winter comes in full swing and the weather gets more cold, you may be feeling more down than usual. Many people report feeling more down, or even depressed, in response to the changing seasons. This is a condition called seasonal affective disorder (SAD). It is important that you know the symptoms and take actionable steps to get you through the winter blues.
People typically begin feeling symptoms of seasonal affective disorder during late fall or early winter with an alleviation of symptoms during the sunnier spring and summer months. However, there are a handful of people who feel SAD with the coming of spring and summer.
Symptoms
If you suffer from SAD during the winter you may feel these symptoms:
more down or depressed than usual
lose interest in activities you previously enjoyed
sleeping more throughout the day
eating more (especially carbohydrates)
have difficulty concentrating
thoughts of suicide.
It is important that if you start feeling more severe symptoms like thoughts of ending your life to contact a medical professional.
People with bipolar disorder are especially sensitive to SAD and their mood may shift with the seasons. For example, they may become more depressed in the winter and become manic starting in the spring or summer.
Causes
There is a biological basis behind why people may feel this way during the winter. For one, with the days getting shorter, our internal clock, also known as the circadian rhythm gets distorted causing feelings of depression. Another reason people may feel off is because our body’s melatonin production which is responsible for us getting adequate sleep gets disrupted due to the change in seasons. Lastly, less sunlight due to the days getting shorter and daylight savings time means we are getting less vitamin D which is linked to our serotonin levels.