When the clouds roll in with winter weather, so too do the gray, dark moods that make wintertime the least wonderful time of the year for some people.
They call it seasonal affect disorder (SAD). When warmth and sunlight succumb to shortened days and colder nights, SAD sufferers have a hard time adjusting to the seasonal changes, and a form of depression is triggered.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, nearly 500,000 US citizens suffer from SAD. How do you know whether your winter sensitivity is actually SAD?
Symptoms
SAD isn’t relegated to any particular age, although women in their early twenties report the most seasonally-connected depression — almost double that of men the same age. Many symptoms of SAD are those forms of depression people are more familiar with. SAD is also marked by mood swings, anxiety problems, and sometimes even panic attacks.
Several key symptoms include:
- General Misery: anger, powerlessness, hopelessness, lack of pleasure, loneliness, loss of interest, or despair
- Lack of Rest: inability to sleep or remain asleep, oversleeping
- Mental Disturbance: anxiety or rumination
- Bodily Frustration: appetite shifts, lethargy, fatigue
- Bothersome Behavior: crying, irritation, or social withdrawal
- Weight Fluctuations: significant weight changes
- Cognitive Disruption: poor concentration
What causes SAD?
Currently, the exact causes of SAD are unknown. However, recent research has devised some hypotheses regarding the specific conditions in which this form of depression occurs:
- Light level theory. Low light in the winter causes less light to hit the retina at the back of the eye. When this happens, the action that sends messages to the region of the brain responsible for sleep, appetite, sex drive, temperature, mood and activity is slowed down. If you’re a person who requires higher levels of light to function, winter is going to leave you feeling very lethargic and blue.
- Serotonin level theory. Some researchers suggest that serotonin is the key factor to determine a cause for SAD. This neurotransmitter has been found in higher amounts among people who suffer from depression during the winter. It may be that SAD sufferers have a brain impairment that causes their systems to improperly release and absorb serotonin.
- Body clock theory. In the past, some studies indicated that SAD might be a result of disruption to the body clock. SAD sufferers may actually be managing a faulty interior clock. The body is simply unable to adjust its circadian rhythm to daylight — leading to exhaustion, depressive thinking, and withdrawal.
- Trauma theory. Some experts believe that SAD can be brought on by a traumatic life event. Abrupt life changes like addiction withdrawal, dramatic weight loss, or chronic illness can also trigger SAD, according to research.
There are things you can do to find relief.
The first order of business should be to eat and sleep as well as possible. Routine exercise helps encourage both. Even if you don’t want to, try to push yourself outside, for a brisk walk daily. Many sufferers appreciate the mental distraction and rush of endorphins.
If your doctor signs off, you may also want to try treatments that use light exposure, which many claim helps regulate brain chemicals. With sessions scheduled throughout the season, the treatment has often shown good results.
If you find that your dark, winter mood is not eased or prone to positive thinking, don’t be surprised. Depression often requires treatment. It is important that you talk to your doctor and a therapist, to head off any physiological problems, or ongoing psychological issues
Denise Kautzer is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and a Certified Public Accountant whose practice is located in St. Paul, MN. You can view her website at www.denisekautzer.com or contact her at denise@denisekautzer.com.