SAD: Symptoms, Causes, & Treatment
Many people go through short periods of time where they feel sad or not like their usual selves. Sometimes, these mood changes begin and end when the seasons change. People may start to feel “down” when the days get shorter in the fall and winter (also called “winter blues”) and begin to feel better in the spring, with longer daylight hours.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is classified as a type of depression that is distinguished by its recurring seasonal cycle, typically lasting approximately 4 to 5 months each year. As a result, SAD shares similar symptoms with major depression, but also includes specific symptoms that vary between winter-pattern and summer-pattern SAD. It’s worth noting that not all individuals with SAD will experience every symptom outlined here.
To be diagnosed with SAD, a person must meet the following criteria:
- They must have symptoms of major depression or the more specific symptoms listed here.
- The depressive episodes must occur during specific seasons (i.e., only during the winter months or the summer months) for at least 2 consecutive years. However, not all people with SAD do experience symptoms every year.
- The episodes must be much more frequent than other depressive episodes that the person may have had at other times of the year during their lifetime.
Symptoms of major depression may include:
- Feeling depressed most of the day, nearly every day
- Losing interest in activities you once enjoyed
- Experiencing changes in appetite or weight
- Having problems with sleep
- Feeling sluggish or agitated
- Having low energy
- Feeling hopeless or worthless
- Having difficulty concentrating
- Having frequent thoughts of death or suicide
For winter-pattern SAD, additional specific symptoms may include:
- Oversleeping
- Overeating
- Weight gain
- Social withdrawal
Specific symptoms for summer-pattern SAD may include:
- Trouble sleeping
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Restlessness & agitation
- Anxiety
- Episodes of violent behavior
How is SAD treated?
Treatments are available that can help many people with SAD. They fall into four main categories that may be used alone or in combination:
- Light therapy
- Psychotherapy
- Antidepressant medications
- Vitamin D
Get in touch to learn more about which treatment, or combination of treatments, is best for you.