Shining a Light on SAD

A HEALTHY YOU

Shining a Light on SAD

Understanding Seasonal Affective Disorder and Its Treatments

December is Seasonal Affective Disorder Awareness Month.

Seasonal depression, or SAD, is a type of depression triggered by the change of seasons and most commonly begins in late fall and continues through the winter. Symptoms often include feelings of sadness, lack of energy, loss of interest in usual activities, oversleeping, and sometimes weight gain. About 5% of adults in the U.S. experience SAD. It tends to start in young adulthood (usually between the ages of 18 and 30) and affects women more than men, though researchers aren’t sure why. Additionally, about 10% to 20% of people in America may experience a milder form of the “winter blues.”

Researchers are unsure exactly what causes seasonal depression. Some theories include:

Biological clock change

Your internal biological clock regulates your mood, sleep, and hormones. This clock shifts with less sunlight during the winter months, which can cause you to feel out of sync with your daily schedule. This, in turn, can lead to difficulty adjusting to changes in daylight length.

Brain chemical imbalance

Brain chemicals called neurotransmitters send communications between nerves. These chemicals include serotonin, which contributes to feelings of happiness. Since sunlight helps regulate serotonin, a lack of sunlight in the winter can make the situation worse. Individuals at risk of SAD may already have lower serotonin activity.

Vitamin D deficiency

Studies have found that serotonin levels get a boost from vitamin D. Since sunlight helps produce vitamin D, less sun exposure in the winter can lead to a vitamin D deficiency, which may affect your serotonin levels and mood.

Negative thoughts

People with SAD often experience stress, anxiety, and negative thoughts about the winter. Researchers aren’t sure if these negative thoughts are a cause or effect of seasonal depression, but this theory continues to be researched.

While there is no blood test or scan to diagnose seasonal depression, your provider may recommend testing to rule out other conditions that cause similar symptoms. This may include checking your thyroid function or looking for other hormonal imbalances.

There is ongoing research into the treatment of SAD. Recent studies have found that ensuring adequate amounts of B vitamins, such as vitamin B6, thiamin, and folic acid, may enhance mood. Medications used to treat depression (antidepressants) can also be effective for SAD, either when used alone or in combination with talk therapy. Antidepressants work by changing how the brain produces or uses certain chemicals involved in mood or stress.

If you or someone you know is showing symptoms of SAD, talk to a health care provider or a mental health specialist about your concerns. They may have you fill out a questionnaire to determine if your symptoms meet the criteria for SAD. To be diagnosed with SAD, a person must meet specific diagnostic criteria.

Additional Article

What to Know About Seasonal Depression

WebMD offers suggestions for treatments and prevention, including light therapy, spending time outdoors, and regular exercise. They also provide guidance on when to call your doctor.

Source: WebMD. Written by Debra Fulghum Bruce, PhD.

About the Author

Cynthia Conigliaro is the Sales and Marketing Director for Organizational Wellness and Learning Systems (OWLS), a consulting firm focused on employee emotional wellbeing and organizational culture analysis. For almost five years she has worked alongside the owner of OWLS to design and implement mental health related employee wellness trainings and workshops for organizations across the United States.

For almost 15 years she has had her own health and wellness coaching business. Cynthia works with individuals and groups and runs virtual and in person workshops for employees on a variety of health and wellness topics relating to both physical and mental health. She is an Infinite Possibilities Certified Trainer and a Resilience and Life Coach. She has been a volunteer with the Worksite Wellness Council of Massachusetts (WWCMA) for the past 4 years where she sits on both the Programs Committee and the Marketing Committee. Cynthia has her Master of Social Work and her Master of Business Administration from Boston College and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a Minor in Spanish from College of the Holy Cross.

A HEALTHY YOU