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People feel “down” when the season changes. Some people feel “down” or depressed at the onset of winter and some at the onset of summer. The majority of the people feel “down” or depressed at the onset of winter. These periods of mood changes are called the “winter blues” or the “summer blues” respectively. In some cases, these mood changes affect how the person feels, thinks, and handles daily activities.

There are certain signs or symptoms of seasonal affective disorder or SAD. The symptoms usually last four to five months a year.

Symptoms of major depression may include:

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

For winter-pattern SAD, additional specific symptoms may include:

• “Oversleeping (hypersomnia)
• Overeating, particularly with a craving for carbohydrates
• Weight-gain
• Social withdrawal (feeling like ‘hibernating’)”

Specific symptoms for summer-pattern SAD may include:

• “Trouble sleeping (insomnia)
• Poor appetite, leading to weight loss
• Restlessness and agitation
• Anxiety
• Episodes of violent behavior”

“The only way a person can be properly diagnosed with SAD is that they have to fill out specific questionnaires to determine if their symptoms meet the criteria for SAD.

To be diagnosed with SAD, a person must meet the following criteria:

• They must have symptoms of major depression or the more specific symptoms of SAD.
• The depressive episodes must occur during specific seasons (i.e. only during the winter months or summer months) for at least 2 consecutive years. However, not all people with SAD experience symptoms every year.
• The episodes must be much more frequent than other depressive episodes that the person may have had at other times of the year during their lifetime.”

Millions of American adults suffer from SAD. It tends to start in young adulthood. It is more common in women than men. Winter SAD is more common in those living farther north. For example, people living in Alaska or New England, where there are shorter daylight hours in the winter.

“SAD is more common in people who already have major depressive disorders, especially bipolar II disorder, which is associated with reoccurring depressive and hypomanic episodes.” It is also a fact that people with SAD have other mental health disorders, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, an eating disorder, an anxiety disorder, or panic disorder.

“SAD sometimes runs in families. SAD is more common in people who have relatives with other mental illnesses, such as major depression or schizophrenia.”

The causes of SAD are not known. However, research indicates that people with SAD have a reduced amount of the neurotransmitter serotonin in their brains. Serotonin helps to regulate a person’s mood. Research suggests that sunlight controls the levels of serotonin in the brain, and it helps the brain to maintain normal levels of the neurotransmitter.  In people with SAD the regulation of serotonin does not function properly.

“Both serotonin and melatonin help maintain the body’s daily rhythm that is tied to the seasonal night-day cycle. In people with SAD the changes in serotonin and melatonin levels disrupt the normal daily rhythms. As a result, they can no longer adjust to the seasonal changes in day length, leading to sleep, mood, and behavior changes.”

Deficits in vitamin D may exacerbate these problems because vitamin D is believed to promote serotonin activity. The vitamin comes from sunlight which is absorbed through the skin. Since, there is less sunlight during the winter months it is believed that the lack of vitamin D exacerbates the condition.

SAD is treated through the use of artificial lights called “light therapy”, psychotherapy called “talk therapy” or medications.

RESOURCES:

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/seasonal-affective-disorder

Signed: Renee D. Warring of Uniquely and Wonderfully Made Ministries