Many people have brief episodes of sadness or feeling unlike themselves. These mood swings might occasionally start and stop with the changing of the seasons. The “winter blues” or “down” that many experience in the autumn and winter are often alleviated by the return of longer daylight hours in the spring.
These mood swings can occasionally be more severe and impact a person’s feelings, thoughts, and actions. You might have seasonal affective disorder (SAD) if you’ve noticed significant changes in your behavior and mood with the changing of the seasons.
Winter-pattern SAD, also referred to as winter depression, is a type of SAD in which symptoms typically appear in late autumn or early winter and disappear in the spring and summer. Some people experience summer depression or summer-pattern SAD, which describes depressive symptoms that occur in the spring and summer. Summertime SAD is less prevalent.
SYMPTOMS OF SAD
The symptoms of SAD, a kind of sadness, return every season and linger for around four to five months of the year. SAD symptoms and indicators encompass depression-related symptoms as well as symptoms unique to the condition, which vary depending on whether the disorder is winter- or summer-patterned. Not every SAD sufferer has every symptom on this list.
Symptoms of depression can include:
- Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood most of the day, nearly every day, for at least 2 weeks
- Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism
- Feelings of irritability, frustration, or restlessness
- Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
- Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities
- Decreased energy, fatigue, or feeling slowed down
- Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
- Changes in sleep or appetite or unplanned weight changes
- Physical aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems that do not have a clear physical cause and do not go away with treatment
- Thoughts of death or suicide or suicide attempts
For winter-pattern SAD, additional symptoms can include:
- Oversleeping (hypersomnia)
- Overeating, particularly with a craving for carbohydrates, leading to weight gain
- Social withdrawal (feeling like “hibernating”)
For summer-pattern SAD, additional symptoms can include:
- Trouble sleeping (insomnia)
- Poor appetite, leading to weight loss
- Restlessness and agitation
- Anxiety
- Violent or aggressive behavior
Winter-pattern SAD should not be confused with “holiday blues,” which are emotions of melancholy or anxiety triggered by stress at specific times of the year. The sadness linked with SAD is caused by variations in daylight hours, not the calendar. Therefore, tensions connected with the holidays, predictable seasonal changes in work or school schedules, family visits, and so on are not the same as SAD.
How is a diagnosis of SAD made?
If you believe that you or someone you know is experiencing signs of SAD, discuss your concerns with a mental health professional or your healthcare provider. If your symptoms fit the criteria for SAD, they might ask you to complete a questionnaire.
One must fulfill the following requirements in order to be diagnosed with SAD:
- They exhibit depressive symptoms or the more particular signs of seasonal or summer-onset SAD mentioned above.
- They experience depressed episodes every winter or summer for a minimum of two years in a row. Still, not every SAD sufferer has symptoms annually.
- Compared to other periods of the year, they have depressed episodes more frequently during the particular season.
Who becomes prone to SAD?
Millions of Americans are said to suffer from SAD, yet many may not be aware that they have this widespread illness. SAD typically starts in early adulthood.
Women experience SAD at a far higher rate than men. Additionally, winter-pattern SAD is more common than summer-pattern SAD. As a result, people who reside farther north, where winter daylight hours are shorter, are more prone to suffer from SAD. For instance, the likelihood of developing SAD is higher in Alaska or New England than in Texas or Florida.
Individuals with depression or bipolar disorder—particularly those with bipolar II disorder, which is characterized by recurrent periods of depression and hypomanic episodes—are more likely to have SAD (less severe than the normal manic episodes of bipolar I disorder). Individuals with SAD are also prone to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, eating disorders, anxiety disorders, and panic attacks.
SAD can run in families and may be more prevalent in those who have relatives suffering from depression or schizophrenia, among other mental conditions.
CAUSES OF SAD
The cause of SAD is currently being investigated. Due to its greater prevalence and ease of investigation, winter-pattern SAD has been the subject of the majority of research thus far. As a result, further study is required to fully understand summer-pattern SAD.
Research shows that serotonin, a brain chemical that helps control mood, is present in lower amounts in individuals with SAD, particularly those with winter-pattern SAD. Additionally, studies indicate that sunshine affects the concentrations of chemicals that support regular serotonin levels. Wintertime serotonin levels may be lower due to these molecules’ inability to act correctly because of shorter daylight hours.
Those with winter-pattern SAD may experience worsening of these symptoms if they are deficient in vitamin D, as vitamin D is thought to increase serotonin activity. The body creates vitamin D when exposed to sunshine on the skin, in addition to the vitamin D found in diet. People with SAD may have decreased vitamin D levels due to less sunshine throughout the winter, which further lowers serotonin activity.
Additional research indicates that both types of SAD may be linked to changes in melatonin levels, which are crucial for preserving the regular sleep-wake cycle. Overproduction of melatonin in individuals with winter-pattern SAD can exacerbate drowsiness and result in oversleeping.
On the other hand, individuals with summer-pattern SAD might have lower melatonin levels, which is consistent with long, hot days impairing sleep quality and resulting in symptoms of depression. Increased temperatures, shorter nights, and longer daylight hours can all interfere with sleep. These notions haven’t, however, been put to a rigorous test.
Melatonin and serotonin regulate the body’s daily rhythm, which is connected to the seasonal night-day cycle. Changes in melatonin and serotonin interfere with regular daily cycles in persons with SAD. They thus lose their ability to adapt to seasonal variations in day duration, which affects their sleep, temperament, and behavior.
People with SAD (as well as others) frequently experience negative thoughts and sentiments about the winter or summer and the constraints and difficulties that go along with it. Though it is unknown if these ideas are the source or result of the mood disorder, treating them can be helpful.
Treatment of SAD
There are therapies available to assist those suffering from SAD. They can be utilized separately or in combination and are divided into four major categories:
- Psychotherapy using light therapy
- Prescription drugs for depression
- Vitamin D
While psychotherapy and medications are used to treat depression in general, including winter- and summer-pattern SAD, light therapy and vitamin D are effective treatments for winter-pattern SAD. Summer-pattern SAD does not have a specific therapy.
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