Our environment has a strong influence on our mental health. In fact, an entire disorder is dependent on the time of year: seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Often referred to as the "winter blues," this disorder typically follows an increased depression that begins in the fall and increases as the winter moves on. In some cases, however, the disorder starts up in the spring and peaks in the summer.
Symptoms vary between winter and summer SAD. According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of fall and winter SAD include depression, hopelessness, anxiety, loss of energy, a heavy or "leaden" feeling in arms or legs, social withdrawal, oversleeping, loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed, appetite changes (especially a craving for carbohydrates), weight gain and difficulty concentrating. Spring and summer SAD, on the other hand, is demonstrated through anxiety, trouble sleeping, irritability, agitation, weight loss, poor appetite and an increased sex drive.
It's easier to dismiss a problem if it goes away on its own. It can take a long time for someone to be motivated to get help and since SAD dissipates after a few months, some people will never seek treatment. The problem is that this is a cyclical disorder that returns year after year, meaning that it isn't actually going away.
SAD, though dependent on the seasons, is not any less severe than other forms of depression. It should be taken just as seriously as "regular" depression. This means actively seeking treatment is just as important. The most commonly used treatments are light therapy, medications and psychotherapy.
Light therapy (also known as phototherapy) involves sitting in front of a box that emits specific wavelengths of light. This treatment is based on the idea that a lack of sunlight is partially to blame for the illness, a theory that is supported by increased rates of winter SAD in the north. This is the least invasive treatment and a good first step. Make sure you buy a quality box and consult with your doctor. How long you expose yourself to the light and what time of day you do so is important and should be determined by a professional.
SSRI antidepressants are also used to treat SAD, especially in more severe cases. It can take several weeks for the medication to work, so if you know you know have a yearly problem with SAD, you might want to start a regimen before winter (or summer) hits. Make sure to not go off the medication before your doctor recommends it, even if you feel better.
Psychotherapy can also be effective in treating SAD. While you can't control the coming and going of the sun, you can control other factors that might be influencing the SAD. A therapist can offer suggestions for managing and reducing your symptom. A therapist can also possibly get at other underlying causes of and contributions to the depression, seeing as it is rarely only one thing that is the root of the problem.
It's unnecessary to suffer from seasonal depression year after year. If you or someone you know struggles at a particular time of year, don't dismiss it. The temporary nature of the disorder does not reduce its seriousness. Schedule an appointment with a doctor or therapist to further explore what your options are in treating SAD.
Do you get more symptomatic at certain times of the year? What has helped you? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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