Seasonal affective disorder
Some of us may find it unusual that our moods are affected by different seasons during the year. Do you ever find yourself saying “I don’t know why but when the sun is out, I just feel so much happier?”, Well, that could be due to the seasonal change! Although some of us may think it isn’t actually a real thing, seasonal affective disorder, very much is! It isn’t just missing the good holiday seasons that we have had, although that plays a part, it’s a little more than just that.
Have you been finding yourself disliking the long winter evenings? Do you feel like just wanting to hibernate? Do you feel exhausted? Or are craving sunlight and carbohydrates more than usual? Then perhaps you may be experiencing a touch of the winter blues or suffering from severe seasonal affective disorder. A recent poll was conducted in the UK focusing on the change of season from summer to winter, and 77% of people in the UK stated that ‘their energy levels were negatively affected’ and 71% of people reported a ‘poorer mood’.
SAD is mainly referred to as a type of depression that has a seasonal pattern to it. Sometimes people call it the ‘winter depression’ as symptoms are more severe during the winter seasons and tend to improve through the spring and summer seasons.
So, what can cause S A D?
Although there isn’t a clear-cut answer as to what may cause SAD, there is a link between the reduced exposure to sunlight during the shorter autumn and winter days which impacts the hypothalamus in our brain, which can affect our melatonin and serotonin levels in our brain, as well as impacting our body’s internal clock.
Affects of each to our brain and body
Melatonin: is a hormone that makes us feel sleepy. People who suffer from SAD can produce more than normal levels of melatonin, therefore impacting them more during the seasonal blues.
Serotonin: is a hormone that affects our mood, appetite, and sleep. Lack of sunlight may cause lower levels of serotonin in our brain, therefore increasing our feelings of depression.
Body’s internal clock: When we are waking up, sunlight is an important factor in controlling when we wake up, so therefore lower levels of sunlight may affect out body’s clock, making us feel like we want to sleep more.
What are some of the signs of S A D?
Some of the symptoms of SAD are very similar to the symptoms of depression, some of the signs can be:
Eating disorders are a lifestyle choice
Eating disorders are severe mental health conditions that can have significant effects on your mental and physical wellbeing.
– Consistently in a low mood or feeling down
– Losing interesting in normal everyday activities
– Feeling irritable
– Feelings of despair, worthlessness, and guilt
– Feeling sleepy or hypersomnia or experiencing insomnia due to not being able to sleep
– Struggling to wake up in the morning
– Consistently craving carbohydrates
– Weight gains due eating more or weight loss which is associated with lack of appetite
– Lower immune system
– Low levels of energy
– Withdrawing socially
– Experiencing anxiety
– Expressing unusual violet behaviour
What can we do if we are experiencing S A D?
If you think you are experiencing SAD, you should consult your GP doctor and explore your options. Remember you aren’t alone; SAD is very common, as we all experience seasonal change in different ways.
Some of the treatments can be:
Light therapy: where a special lamp known as a light box us used to simulate exposure to sunlight.
Talking therapies: speaking to a mental health professional about your symptoms and mood.
Antidepressant medication: There is medication in which your GP doctor may suggest for you to help with your mood and also increase the levels of serotonin for us. However, this is something which needs to be consulted with your GP doctor first.
We can also try and take some measure to adapt our lifestyle which can help to improve our symptoms, for example:
– Getting as much natural sunlight as we can, even if it’s a weak winter sunshine, it can make a difference
– Making our indoor space as alight and airy as possible
– Making sure that we are exercising regularly, especially engaging in outdoor activities during daylight.
– Eating a healthy and balanced diet
– Taking vitamin D (with consultation of your doctor)
If you think you need further advice on seasonal affective disorder, please get in touch with your GP and have a consultation.