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Depression and Seasonal Affective Disorder

Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD as it is commonly known, is a condition that causes people to experience behavioral and mood changes with the changing of the seasons. Most often, people experience SAD during the fall and winter months, as the nights grow long and the temperatures drop. However, some people develop revere SAD, a condition in which people exhibit SAD symptoms in the spring and summer, when the days are longer.

Seasonal affective disorder is a form of depression that can have a dramatic, negative impact on the sufferer's ability to function on a day-to-day basis. Luckily, however, there are a number of treatment options that exist for people who battle SAD. While people with mild cases of SAD might benefit from spending more time outside, those with more severe SAD cases may need to turn to medication and/or psychotherapy.

Symptoms of SAD

The majority of people who suffer from SAD experience symptoms in the winter or fall months. These people are said to be suffering from winter-onset seasonal affective disorder. Symptoms of winter-onset seasonal affective disorder can include any combination of the following:

anxiety
appetite changes
depression
difficulty concentrating
eating disorders
hopelessness
loss of energy
loss of interest in normally enjoyed activities
oversleeping
sexual dysfunction
social withdrawal
weight gain.

Note that all of the symptoms above are conditions related to depression. While the severity of symptoms can vary greatly from one SAD patient to the next, people suffering from the condition will feel depressed to some extent. The exception to this is in patients with reverse SAD.

Reverse SAD

Reverse SAD is a rare type of seasonal affective disorder in which people don't experience depression and other symptoms generally associated with depression. Instead, this form of SAD that generally occurs in the summer tends to cause patients to exhibit mania, the exact opposite of depression.

Symptoms of reverse SAD include the following:

constant elevated mood
enthusiasm that is out of proportion to the event or activity
hyperactivity
increased irritability
increased socialization.

Sometimes, you will hear reverse SAD referred to as summer-onset SAD.

Coping with Depression

As SAD symptoms are cyclical, coming and going with the changing of the seasons, SAD sufferers tend to exhibit a healthy and normal mental state during the majority of the year. When they start to notice SAD symptoms, however, they should seek help from a medical professional. While some patients might require medication to cope with the depression and related conditions, others will simply need to make some lifestyle changes or practice light therapy.

If you experience SAD, try some or all of the following to help you get a handle your depression:

Brighten your spaces: Make your home and office as bright as possible. Open your blinds and consider installing skylights.
Exercise: Regular physical exercise helps relieve SAD symptoms, including anxiety and stress. As a bonus, being in shape will help boost your self-esteem.
Follow a healthy lifestyle: Drugs and alcohol can make SAD symptoms, especially depression, much worse. Eat a balanced diet, avoid drugs and drink in moderation to promote mental health and ward off depression.
Follow your treatment plan: Once you and your doctor have formulated a plan of treatment, stick with it. This means taking medications on time, if applicable, and attending scheduled therapy sessions. Though experts speculate SAD has biological causes, going to therapy can help you learn ways to cope with stress and negative thoughts.
Learn to manage stress: Being overly stressed can worsen depression. Learn and practice stress-reduction techniques, such as relaxation therapy or meditation.
Stay connected: Removing yourself from your support system of family and friends will only make your condition more unbearable. Stay in touch with friends and family who you enjoy being around.
Take a walk: In cold winter months, people tend to spend more time indoors, which can worsen depression. As a result, try to get outside when the sun is shining.

By taking a few simple steps, you can greatly reduce the depression SAD causes.

Resources

Depression Guide (updated June 27, 2007). Disorders and Conditions Related to Depression. Retrieved October 17, 2007 from the Depression Guide Web site: http://www.depression-guide.com/disorders.htm.

Mayo Clinic Staff (September 24, 2007). Seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Retrieved December 6, 2007, from the Mayo Clinic Web site: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/seasonal-affective-disorder/
DS00195/DSECTION=1.

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