Do you feel especially dreary or unmotivated during the wintertime? It might just be the winter blues, but it could be the result of something more serious. You could be experiencing the effects of seasonal affective disorder.

What is seasonal affective disorder? Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of clinical depression that only occurs during a specific time of year - typically, wintertime. According to the Mood Disorders Society of Canada “it is estimated that 2-4% of the {Canadian}population suffers from SAD.”

Symptoms of SAD SAD symptoms revolve around a distinct loss of energy. Oversleeping, fatigue, and decreased ability to concentrate are all common SAD symptoms. People with SAD have also expressed an intense craving for carbohydrates. This craving for carbs can cause sudden weight gain and increased feelings of sluggishness. Sufferers of SAD will be less inclined to interact socially due to their fatigue and increased weight. A common misconception is that SAD symptoms are the same as clinical depression. Clinical depression symptoms however, are more closely related to feelings of hopelessness, guilt, and anxiety. More on clinical depression symptoms can be found here.

What causes SAD? The causes of SAD are speculative. Research regarding SAD has been limited in comparison to other disorders - it was only recognized as a common disorder in 2007. Barometric pressure changes, precipitant levels, and low winter temperatures have all been suggested as possible causes of SAD. Currently, the most popular theory is in regards to the connection between the mind and sunlight. The theory is that the fewer sunlight hours during winter reduce the production of mood altering chemicals in our brains, such as serotonin. A lack of mood alerting chemicals could explain why people with SAD are more apathetic and unmotivated during the winter, but perfectly fine in the summer. This theory has led to the most popular form of treatment for SAD, light therapy.

What is light therapy? Light therapy involves exposing your body to bright lights on a regular basis in order to improve your energy levels. Light therapy boxes are designed to emit light that imitates the sun’s rays. With regular light therapy sessions, the symptoms of SAD can be reduced significantly. 65% of people who used light therapy to treat their SAD experienced positive benefits after 2-4 weeks. Some have claimed that light therapy helped them within just 4 days. If untreated, those with SAD can develop other conditions and disorders, such as manic-depressive disorder. As many as 20% of people who have SAD go onto to develop another disorder. If you think you might be suffering from SAD, or have had SAD-like symptoms during past winters, it’s important you talk to your doctor. They can professionally analyze your symptoms and diagnose your treatment accordingly. For more resources on seasonal affective disorder, check out our links below.

Seasonal Affective Disorder Important Links:

Clinical Guidelines for the Treatment of Seasonal Affective Disorder: http://www.ubcmood.ca/sad/ccg_sad.htm

Mood Disorders Canada: Depression & SAD http://www.mooddisorderscanada.ca/documents/Consumer%20and%20Family%20Support/Depression.pdf

NY Times article on SAD: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/18/health/18mind.html?em&ex=1198213200&en=a955503f665508cf&ei=5087%0A

Source Url: http://gobelmont.ca/seasonal-affective-disorder/