WISCONSIN (OnFocus) – Does your mood seem to reflect the seasons, darkening as the days of winter shorten and fading as the brighter days of summer approach? You could have a condition known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
SAD is a type of depression characterized by its recurring seasonal pattern, with symptoms lasting four to five months per year from late fall to early spring. According to the American Psychiatric Association, about five percent of adults in the United States experience SAD.
“People can start to feel ‘low’ as the days get shorter this time of year. This is ‘winter pattern SAD’ and can cause you to feel tired, crave carbohydrates, gain weight, avoid things you normally enjoy, or withdraw socially during the fall and winter months,” says licensed clinical social worker at Aspirus, Heidi Pritzl.
Anyone can be affected by SAD, but according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), those most at risk include women, people living in the North, people living with other mental health disorders, and those with a family history of SAD. depression. In most cases, SAD begins in young adulthood.
If a patient is diagnosed with SAD, a variety of recommendations can be made, depending on the severity. Pritzl recommends a well-balanced lifestyle and regular walks when the weather is mild. “Light therapy (using a light box or sunrise lamp), talk therapy, vitamin D, and in some cases medications such as antidepressants can be used alone or in combination. Talk to your health care provider about which treatment or combination of treatments is best for you,” says Pritzl.
Because the timing of the onset of winter-pattern SAD is so predictable, people with a history of SAD may benefit from starting the treatments listed above before the fall to help prevent or reduce depression. Therefore, people with SAD should talk to their health care providers if they want to start treatment early to prevent depressive episodes.
If you have noticed significant changes in your mood or behavior each time the seasons change, talk to your provider or find a provider online. www.aspirus.org/find-a-provider.
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