Seasonal Affective Disorder

As we move into fall and winter the days are getting shorter, the temperature is getting colder and people find themselves spending more time inside. Ask yourself a few questions; do you start to feel more tired around this time? Do you find yourself feeling depressed, numb and less interested in activities? Do you find your mood changing drastically from fall and winter to spring and summer? Do you notice that this happens every year? If this is the case, you may have Seasonal Affective Disorder, also known as SAD.

Having less sunlight in our lives affects all of us, but some individuals are more affected than others. The first step is to identify the symptoms, and then seek an expert opinion. There are plenty of treatments, but first it must be diagnosed. It’s also possible that you won’t recognize the symptoms yourself, but other people around you will. People may start asking “Are you okay?” more often than usual, or you might find yourself pulling away from others and spending less time doing what you like.

Symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder

Symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder can include feeling depressed, losing interest in activities you once enjoyed, low energy levels, trouble sleeping, overeating and weight gain, feelings of agitation or laziness, difficulty concentrating, hopelessness and guilt. When SAD hits we become a little like bears and try to hibernate for the winter.

One of the biggest contributors to Seasonal Affective Disorder is a lack of sunlight. The sun provides serotonin, a chemical in our brains that affects our mood. Specifically, it is linked to feelings of happiness and well-being. With the days becoming shorter, and the sun being in the sky for less time, there are not as many opportunities for our bodies to absorb those mood boosting rays.

How to Cope With SAD

There are steps that you can take to combat Seasonal Affective Disorder. First, you can still go outside and get sunlight. Even though the temperature is getting colder, your brain still produces more serotonin when you get direct sunlight. Even just going for a walk can help you fight SAD. Another helpful way to combat SAD is with full spectrum lights. These lights produce a wider range of colors and rays that more closely resemble natural light. They are often used to combat that lack of sunlight and trick the brain into producing more serotonin. Phototherapy is a technique that uses lightboxes to combat SAD.

If you are interested in full spectrum lights or lightboxes, contact your primary care physician or a therapist. If these steps are still not enough to help you cope with Seasonal Affective Disorder, you might consider speaking with a psychiatrist about other ways to help until the season changes. As always, we are here, so let us help.