9 Signs You Have Seasonal Depression

What is Seasonal Depression?

Seasonal affective disorder, or seasonal depression, is a form of depression that typically affects people in the colder winter months. People with seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, experience many of the same symptoms as those with other types of depression; however, their symptoms seem to improve closer to spring. Some people do experience seasonal affective disorder in the summertime, but it’s far less common than wintertime SAD.

While a lot of people might think of SAD as just, well, sadness, this is far from the truth. Seasonal depression can become debilitating and affect every aspect of life if not treated properly. According to the American Psychiatric Association, around 4-6 percent of adults in the U.S. experience SAD. Their symptoms usually last around 40% of the year. Women tend to suffer from this condition more than men.

What Causes Seasonal Depression?

Like other forms of depression, seasonal depression has been linked to a chemical imbalance in the brain associated with less sunlight and fewer daylight hours. When winter comes around, our circadian rhythm is thrown off due to lack of sunlight, and this can disrupt our entire schedules. SAD is most commonly observed in those who live farther from the equator where it’s darker and colder in the winter. The onset of seasonal affective disorder is normally between the years of 18 and 30.

Diagnosis

To be diagnosed with SAD, people must meet the criteria for major depression occurring during specific seasons for at least 2 years. However, to meet the criteria for SAD, the patient must have more frequent seasonal depression than non-seasonal depression, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

Below, we’ll go over some common signs and symptoms of seasonal depression, as well as how it can be treated.

1. Persistent feelings of sadness and depression

Like regular depression, people with seasonal affective disorder experience frequent feelings of sadness and depression due to a dramatic decrease in sunlight. People with a family history of other types of depression are more likely to develop SAD, as well as those already diagnosed with depression or bipolar disorder.

2. Loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed

During the winter months, people with SAD will often withdraw from social activities and “hibernate” due to colder temperatures and dreary weather. They will show far less interest in things they once found enjoyable. Some even isolate themselves from family and friends. If this sounds like you only during the winter months, you might have seasonal depression.

3. Appetite increases, as well as cravings for carbohydrates

This symptom also mimics regular depression, except that people with SAD tend to get hungrier only during the winter months. In fact, as much as 65% of people with SAD report feeling an increase in appetite when it gets colder outside. This is believed to occur due to a drop in serotonin levels, which help to balance moods and control hunger.

Many people with SAD also experience intense cravings for carbohydrates, which help boost serotonin levels in the brain. Carbohydrates also cause levels of an amino acid called tryptophan to increase in the brain, which help induce feelings of calmness and contentedness. Eating too many carbs (especially simple carbs such as bread and pasta), can lead to weight gain if the calories consumed aren’t burned off. Unfortunately, around 75% of people with SAD gain weight due to an increase in appetite.

4. Sleeping more

People with seasonal depression tend to sleep more than people without this disorder. In fact, in one survey of people with SAD, 80% of patients reported increased sleep in the winter. Another study of people with SAD found that patients at a clinic averaged nearly 10 hours of sleep in the winter.

5. Lack of energy, even with more sleep

Despite the increased sleep, people with SAD often feel lacking in energy because sleeping longer doesn’t necessarily equate to sleeping better. Many people with seasonal depression have insomnia and other sleep problems because of an imbalance in chemicals such as melatonin, serotonin, and dopamine. Scientists have found that people with SAD overproduce melatonin, which helps regulate sleep. Additionally, they don’t produce enough serotonin, which helps to regulate moods.

6. Restless, but fatigued

As we said before, those with seasonal depression may suffer from restless sleep, which leaves them feeling fatigued during the day. However, patients may also feel restless during daytime hours, especially if they have co-occurring anxiety.

7. Feelings of worthlessness and shame

Unfortunately, this symptoms is one of the most common among depression sufferers. If this feeling is exacerbated during winter months, you might have seasonal depression.

8. Trouble focusing or making decisions

Just like major or mild to moderate depression, seasonal affective disorder can impair cognitive functions. In fact, a 2007 study in the American Journal of Psychiatry found that one participant with SAD reported that she had trouble remembering names and appointments and became easily distracted.

9. Frequent thoughts of death or suicide

This is another unfortunate, sometimes tragic, symptom of depression. If you are experiencing thoughts of death or suicide, please seek professional help or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) for immediate assistance.

Treatment for Seasonal Depression

SAD usually involves a combination of treatments such as light therapy, talk therapy, and/or medication. We’ll go over these treatment options in more detail below.

• Light therapy involves sitting in front of a light box that emits very bright light at least 20 minutes per day. Light boxes filter out harmful UV rays, and most emit 10,000 lux of white fluorescent light, which is 20 times stronger than normal indoor lighting. Treatment usually begins in early fall and continues throughout the winter, and most people see improvement within one to two weeks. It’s recommended to do light therapy first thing in the morning to help regulate brain chemicals associated with SAD.
• Cognitive behavioral therapy is most commonly used to treat SAD. It’s adapted to this particular disorder and includes something called behavioral activation, which helps patients identify enjoyable activities to give them ways to cope with winter.
• Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most common type of antidepressant used to treat seasonal affective disorder. The FDA has also approved the use of bupropion, another type of antidepressant, to treat SAD.

Seasonal Depression in Summertime

Since we have gone over the signs and treatment of wintertime SAD, we’ll briefly mention summertime SAD symptoms and treatment. Summertime SAD usually presents with the following symptoms:

• agitation
• difficulty sleeping
• increased restlessness
• lack of appetite
• weight loss

Just as wintertime SAD is caused by a decrease in sunlight and colder temperatures, summertime SAD is believed to be caused by longer days and an increase in sunlight, heat, and humidity. Countries near the equator usually experience this condition more than areas farther from the equator. While less is known about summer depression, it’s believed that a drop in melatonin production is a big culprit.

Treatment includes antidepressants and talk therapy. Also, turn off lights when you’re not using them and seek air conditioning as much as possible.

Because symptoms of SAD can mirror other conditions such as bipolar disorder, hypothyroidism, and mononucleosis, a doctor will need to diagnose you and perform tests to rule out these conditions. The doctor will ask about your symptoms and when you first began noticing them. As we said before, if you find that you only experience sadness around certain times of year, then you probably have seasonal depression. However, if you have frequent feelings of sadness year-round, you might have major depression or some other form of depression.

Other tips for Dealing with Seasonal Depression

• Make sure to stay in contact with friends and family to avoid isolating yourself. Even if you feel depressed, making time for loved ones can help ease symptoms. You certainly need a support system when you feel down.
• Try to spend time outdoors during daylight hours. Even if it’s cold outside, you’ll feel a bit better getting some sun on your skin and spending time in nature.
• Maintain a healthy diet. It’s okay to eat treats in moderation, but on a daily basis, try to eat as much fresh food as you can. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and avocados.
• Drink plenty of water. In the wintertime, it’s easy to get dehydrated because our thirst signals aren’t as strong. However, make sure to hydrate even when you don’t feel particularly thirsty. Inadequate water intake can worsen depression.

Final thoughts on These Signs of Seasonal Depression

We hope you have learned a thing or two about seasonal depression and how to treat it. If you feel that you may have seasonal affective disorder, please talk to a licensed professional. Discuss your symptoms so that he/she can help you with treatment options. Never feel ashamed to get help for a mental disorder. It’s not your fault that you have a chemical imbalance in your brain. It’s important to get help for any mental disorder, because you can begin your path to recovery.