Everything You Need To Know About Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

MayoClinic.org defines Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) as, “A type of depression that’s related to changes in seasons,” and that, “SAD begins and ends at about the same times every year. If you’re like most people with SAD, your symptoms start in the fall and continue into the winter months, sapping your energy and making you feel moody. Less often, SAD causes depression in the spring or early summer.” (MayoClinic.org)

According to Cleveland Clinic, SAD typically begins in young adulthood. 5% of adults in the U.S. experience SAD. Although it is not known why, it tends to impact women more than man. Specifically, 75% of those who get SAD are females.

What causes seasonal affective disorder (SAD)?

Biological Clock Change
Chemical Imbalance
Vitamin D Deficit
Melatonin Boost
Negative Thoughts

What are some of the symptoms for SAD?

Sadness
Anxiety
Fatigue
Hopelessness or Worthlessness
Losing interest in activities you tend to enjoy.
Difficulty Concentrating
Irritability
Sleeping More

It is important to mention the specific symptomology based on Winter-Onset & Summer-Onset SAD:

Fall/Winter SAD

Oversleeping
Gain in weight
Low energy

Spring/Summer SAD

Insomnia
Lack of appetite
Weight loss
Anxiety

There are multiple effective ways to treat SAD. The National Institute of Mental Health (nimh.nih.gov) goes into depth about the effectiveness of Light Therapy in treating SAD, “Since the 1980s, light therapy has been a mainstay for the treatment of SAD. It aims to expose people with SAD to a bright light every day to make up for the diminished natural sunshine in the darker months”. Additionally, the institute mentions other effective treatments, including: antidepressant medications, Vitamin D, and psychotherapy.