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SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER
By Mayo Clinic Staff
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is different from the winter blahs. Like many people, you may experience cabin fever during the winter. You may also tend to eat more and sleep more. But SAD goes well beyond this. It's a type of depressive disorder.
If you have SAD, winter's short days and long nights may induce feelings of depression, lethargy, fatigue, cravings for sweets and starches, headaches and sleep problems. Exactly how many people have SAD isn't well known, but estimates range from 2 percent to 10 percent of Americans. The disorder usually begins when you're a young adult. It's also more common in women than men.
What causes SAD is unclear, but it may have to do with the amount of sunlight you receive. Although SAD can affect people anywhere, it becomes more common the farther north or south you are from the equator - these areas of the planet experience decreased daylight for months at a time. In some people, recurring episodes of depression may occur in the summer rather than in the winter.
Although there's no cure for SAD, there are treatments to help you successfully manage the condition so that you can go through the seasons of the year with relative comfort.
Signs and Symptoms
SAD is a cyclic, seasonal condition, which means signs and symptoms are present only during a particular season of the year and then go away. Most of the time, the signs and symptoms of SAD appear during the winter and recede during the spring and summer.
But there are some expectations to the rule. Some people have worsened signs and symptoms of depression in the spring. Other people experience periods of mania or hypomania, a less intense form of mania, during the summer. Characteristics of mania may include persistently elevated mood, hyperactivity and inflated self-esteem.
If you've been through two annual cycles with the following signs and symptoms, you may have SAD:
- Depression
- Loss of energy
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Headaches
- Increased sleep
- Overeating, especially foods high in carbohydrates
- Weight Gain
- Difficulty concentrating and processing information
Coping Skills
Some things you can do on your own can help you cope with seasonal depression. The following suggestions may help you better manage SAD:
- Increase the amount of light in your home. Open blinds, add skylights and trim tree branches that block sunlight.
- Walk outdoors on sunny days, even during winter.
- Exercise regularly. Physical exercise helps relieve stress and anxiety, which can accentuate SAD. Being more fit can make you feel better about yourself.
- Learn ways to better manage stress.
- If possible, take winter vacations in sunny, warm locations.
When to seek medical advise
Most people experience some days when they feel down. But if you feel down for days at a time and life seems to be losing its pleasure, see your doctor. This is particularly important if you notice that your sleep and appetite are affected - and certainly if you think about suicide. |
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