SAD: Seasonal Affective Disorder

This topic has been on my mind a lot lately, as the seasons are changing. Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, is a type of depression that's related to changes in seasons. It begins and ends about the same times every year. For most people, the SAD symptoms start in the fall and continue into the winter, sapping energy and making you feel moody. Less often, though also important to note, SAD causes depression in spring or early summer.

Treatment for SAD can include light therapy, psychotherapy and medications.

Don't brush off the feeling as simply the "winter blues" or a seasonal funk that you have to tough out on your own. Take steps to keep yourself in check. Work to keep your mood and motivation steady throughout the year.

More often than not, SAD symptoms appear during late fall or early winter, when days are short and dark, and go away during the sunnier days of spring and summer. However, some people do have symptoms that begin in spring or summer. Either way, symptoms generally start out mild and become more severe as the season progresses.

Seasonal affective disorder is a subtype of major depression that comes and goes based on seasons. So symptoms of major depression may be part of SAD, such as:

•Feeling depressed most of the day, nearly every day
•Feeling hopeless or worthless
•Having low energy
•Losing interest in activities you once enjoyed
•Having problems with sleeping
•Experiencing changes in your appetite or weight
•Feeling sluggish or agitated
•Having difficulty concentrating
•Having frequent thoughts of death or suicide

Symptoms specific to fall/winter SAD may include:

•Irritability
•Tiredness or low energy
•Problems getting along with other people
•Hypersensitivity to rejection
•Heavy, "leaden" feeling in the arms or legs
•Oversleeping
•Appetite changes, especially a craving for foods high in carbohydrates
•Weight gain

Symptoms specific to spring/summer SAD may include:

•Depression
•Trouble sleeping
•Weight loss
•Poor appetite
•Agitation or anxiety
•Seasonal changes in bipolar disorder

The specific causes of SAD are unknown. Some factors that may come into play include:

•Your biological clock (circadian rhythm). The reduced level of sunlight in fall and winter may cause winter-onset SAD. The decrease in sunlight may disrupt your body's internal clock and lead to feelings of depression.

•A drop in serotonin, a brain that affects mood, might play a role in SAD. Reduced sunlight can cause a drop in serotonin that may trigger depression.

•Melatonin levels. The change in season can disrupt the balance of the body's level of melatonin, which plays a role in sleep patterns and mood.

Factors that may increase your risk of SAD include:

•Being female. SAD is diagnosed more often in women than in men.

•Age. Young people have a higher risk of winter SAD.

•Family history. People with SAD may be more likely to have blood relatives with SAD or another form of depression.

•Having clinical depression or bipolar disorder. Symptoms of depression may worsen seasonally if you have one of these conditions.

•Living far from the equator. SAD appears to be more common among people who live far north or south of the equator. This is probably due to decreased sunlight during the winter and longer days during the summer months.

Take signs and symptoms of seasonal affective disorder seriously! As with other types of depression, SAD can get worse and lead to problems if it's not treated. These can include:

•Suicidal thoughts or behavior
•Social withdrawal
•School or work problems
•Substance abuse

Treatment can help prevent complications, especially if SAD is diagnosed and treated before symptoms get bad. Don't be afraid or ashamed to see your doctor if you have any symptoms of SAD.

Remember that you are worth whatever it takes to help you feel better. There is nothing to miniscule or insignificant in the way you feel. Get help if you need it through these cold winter months. You're needed and wanted and you are worth the fight.