Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, is a form of recurrent depressive disorder characterized by episodes of depression that emerge during a specific season. Most people with SAD report feeling depressed during the late fall and winter months, when people typically spend more time indoors and get less sunlight. Symptoms of this disorder are similar to those of major depressive disorder.
In fact, SAD is diagnosed as a type of depressive disorder. Recent studies have examined the neurophysiological mechanisms that might underlie this condition. Though these studies have shed some light on SAD, the nature of the disorder is still somewhat elusive. However, today’s article will share not only what we have learned about it so far, but will also offer information on treatment options if you or a loved one are struggling.
What Is Seasonal Affective Disorder?
SAD can be best defined as recurring depression that is reliably timed to specific seasons of the year. Most often, people experience the winter kind, but some do get the summer version. They are also not exactly the same; winter SAD (the most well-studied form) is much more common than summer SAD, and the symptoms have been described as “exaggerated” in some instances for the summer version.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) does not recognize SAD as a standalone diagnosis. Instead, it considers SAD to be a “specifier” under either Major Depressive Disorder or Bipolar Disorder. This classification reflects the way SAD tends to occur at certain times of the year (mainly in the fall and winter months) while also showing some of the same overlapping symptoms evident with other, more run-of-the-mill depressive conditions.
Shared Symptoms In SAD And Depression
Many signs and symptoms are found in both seasonal affective disorder and seasonal depression. People diagnosed with either condition may find that they can’t shake feelings of sadness and hopelessness and that they cannot summon up the usual interest and enthusiasm for things they used to enjoy.
They may also feel like they are just plodding along mentally and physically because they cannot seem to concentrate and have lost all sense of motivation. A distinctive aspect of winter-pattern SAD is that it often causes people to sleep too much, eat too much, and crave unhealthy carbohydrates.
Treatment Options
People with seasonal affective disorder commonly seek a variety of therapies and treatments to feel better. One of the most popular and effective treatments is light therapy. A patient will sit near a light box, which is specially designed to mimic the natural sunlight associated with better moods.
Another common treatment is medication. Many with SAD are prescribed antidepressants. Still others may rely on CBT, or cognitively-based therapy, which helps patients with SAD address the negative thought patterns that seem to trigger their low moods.
Addressing SAD And Improving Emotional Health Year-Round
Ultimately, SAD is connected with depression in many ways, particularly in terms of shared symptoms and what seems to be shared biology. Yet, SAD is not just a form of depression with a peculiar timetable; it is a clear sign that the mental health of individuals can be profoundly affected by the environmental conditions to which they are exposed, especially regarding the amount and quality of sunlight they receive.
