Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) Is Often Predictable In Winter Months
If you’ve ever experienced the inexplicable urge to go buy a pumpkin spice latte while it’s snowing outside, you might be suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder (commonly known as SAD). SAD is a type of depression that affects people at different times throughout the year, with symptoms generally worsening in winter months. This article will discuss what exactly causes this specific type of depression and what can be done to treat it.
What Is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a seasonal depression that begins in the winter months and can last as long as four to six weeks. Most people diagnosed with SAD experience mood swings but they may also experience lethargy, lack of motivation, and hunger. These symptoms generally appear between the months of November and February and get worse each year.
Everyone feels depressed at some point in their lives. However, SAD is one of the most common types of depression and it may be more prevalent than you think. That’s because SAD occurs in only 10-15% of the population and many people do not recognize they are experiencing this type of depression until they try to stop taking antidepressants or go through seasonal changes.
There are four different varieties of depression but SAD is one type that’s most active during winter months. Seasonally Affective Disorder is categorized by these factors:
Affects people in different seasons and regions
Personality changes are common
Substantial worsening of symptoms in the winter months and improvement during summer months. This worsening is referred to as a “winter-onset” pattern.
Recurrence over at least two years with symptom-free periods between episodes. These periods must be long enough to rule out other disorders and allow for seasonal variation in symptoms.
Research suggests that SAD is caused by changes in the body’s sensitive biological clock and some studies suggest an imbalance of serotonin (a neurotransmitter) between the winter and summer months may be responsible for the severity of symptoms. However, this isn’t fully true because there are a lot of reasons for why people experience depression during winter months.
We’re also not completely sure what causes seasonal depression and it’s possible that the cause is multi-factorial and that factors such as genetics, environment, and psychiatric disorders all may play a role. However, there are some signs to watch out for which suggest SAD may be the culprit. We’ll discuss these signs in the next section.
Signs to watch out for:
Feelings of sadness or hopelessness which occur during periods of short days. These feelings are generally worse in the winter months than they are during summer months.
Craving for salty, sweet, or starchy foods (high blood sugar is necessary for the production of serotonin from amino acids) may also occur. Some people even experience cravings for more fatty foods
Persistent fatigue with low energy levels, no motivation to do anything, and frequent sleeping are common in SAD.
Many people with SAD experience mood swings which can be either positive or negative, depending on their state of mind. Some people only experience these mood swings in SAD but others will experience them frequently throughout the year.
What you can do to help:
SAD is a very treatable disorder and if your doctor has diagnosed it correctly, it can be managed with a combination of light therapy and antidepressants.
Light therapy can be used alone or in conjunction with antidepressants. In this type of therapy, patients should sit in front of a light box before going to bed at night. The light box has special windows that emit artificial blue light which is believed to have a positive effect on the brain and the production of serotonin. However, this treatment is still not fully understood and a lot more research needs to be done.
Light therapy can be effective for treating SAD but it’s not for everyone. Light boxes can be purchased online or at your local drugstore. There are different light boxes that you can use depending on what you feel is the best fit for you:
There are multiple different types of light therapy prescriptions on the market which is why it’s important to take time and do thorough research before deciding which one is right for you. There are some medications that interact with light therapy so consult a professional before starting treatment.
Antidepressants can help manage SAD and it’s typically used as the first line of treatment. Common antidepressants used to treat SAD include fluoxetine, amitriptyline, mirtazapine, bupropion, fluvoxamine, citalopram, sertraline and clomipramine. All of these medications have their own benefits and drawbacks so be sure to ask your doctor about them before choosing one to start.
Conclusion
SAD is a very common type of depression that affects people during winter months. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s possible you’re suffering from SAD. Talk with your doctor about getting a proper diagnosis and treatment plan before the symptoms get worse.
If you found this article helpful, share it with your friends and family who have seasonal depression!
References:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.