Seasonal Affective Disorder
People often talk about feelings of depression or sadness during certain times in the year, and feeling fine the after the certain time period or season has ended. This has been exacerbated especially during the pandemic when no one could leave their houses. In recent years, this seasonal shift in emotions has been given the name of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). SAD is characterized as a form of depression that normally occurs during winter months and only lasts for as long as the season goes. Symptoms are pretty much the same as the more common forms of depression such as loss of interest in activities that were a favorite, low energy and feeling easily fatigued, and feelings of being unimportant.
Each SAD episode is different within each seasonal shift. For instance, Winter and Fall seasons tend to yield symptoms of getting too much sleep, changes in eating patterns, which in turn leads to weight gain, and tiredness. These feelings are often attributed to the bleak weather that occurs during these two seasons such as rainy days, overcast skies, etc. During Spring and Summer months, SAD is a little different, there is an increase in irritability and agitation, along with losing weight and increased potential for insomnia. There are various factors besides the diagnosis of depression that come into play with SAD. One’s own biological clock is set out of sync when the weather shifts into a cloudier and rainier setting, therefore causing a reaction of classic depressive symptoms and oversleeping as stated before. The same principle goes for Spring and Summer when more sunlight is introduced. Serotonin levels are also affected when SAD is present and occurring through decreased levels of the hormone. The reason sleep patterns are affected is because of the amount of melatonin the body produces during a SAD episode. When in an episode, the melatonin levels are shifted and therefore cause the body to either oversleep or lose sleep depending on either its increase or decrease.
The thing about seasonal affective disorder is that it is not just a randomly diagnosed disorder, it can be inherited. If any person in one’s family has reported that they have SAD, the likelihood of the individual having the disorder is increased. If someone is already diagnosed with depression or bipolar disorder, there is a higher risk factor for having SAD because one’s depression may increase during a certain season in an ebb and flow cycle. Living situations are also a factor, meaning that there have been reports that say that living further north or south of the world’s equator can affect a person’s emotional state and increase potential diagnosis for SAD because of decreased sunlight and longer days in the summer in certain regions of the world. The lack of sunlight also causes a decrease in vitamin D and can also be a trigger for a SAD episode. Complications can arise with suffering from this disorder such as withdrawal from social situations, school and work performance would start to suffer, and if left untreated, SAD can turn into more serious issues such as substance abuse.
Treatment of this disorder consists of mindfulness and other forms of therapy such as phototherapy which helps suppress melatonin levels which helps with energy levels. Lifestyle changes can also help reduce symptoms of the disorder such as meditation, utilizing vitamin D and B supplements, incorporating exercise, and using the energy one has through art or other forms of creativity.
-Written by Kylie Hamacher, Undergraduate Intern
References:
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2021, December 14). Seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved March 21, 2022, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20364651
Struve, G. (2021, May 5). Seasonal affective disorder: Vitamin D and depression. Granite Mountain Behavioral Healthcare. Retrieved March 21, 2022, from https://granitemountainbhc.com/blog/seasonal-affective-disorder-vitamin-d-and-depression/