Seasonal Affective Disorder

When the shadows became longer and the leaves began falling from the trees she started to feel her mood change. As the daylight hours shortened, her mood altered to one of melancholy. She started snacking more often and noticed that she lacked the motivation to take her daily walk. Usually an early riser, she found that she hardly had the energy to get out of bed.

For some individuals, a type of depression emerges as the season changes from sunny and bright to cold and gray. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is more common in the winter months and usually begins in the late fall or early winter. By spring, when the days become longer, sufferers of winter depression usually find their mood is less depressed. As many as 10 million Americans may suffer from SAD with many more people experiencing the milder problem of “winter blues.”

Common symptoms of winter depression include the following:
• A change in appetite, especially a craving for starchy foods
• Weight gain
• A drop in energy level
• A decrease in physical activity and productivity level
• A tendency to oversleep or a desire to sleep longer than usual

SAD is more common in women than in men and usually first appears in early adulthood.
The disorder seems to be more common in northern latitudes where the daylight is shorter during the winter months.

Unlike forms of depression precipitated by chronic stress or other psychological difficulties, SAD is related to seasonal variations in light and is often treated by using phototherapy or bright light therapy.

A professional assessment should be performed to establish the diagnosis of SAD, with resulting recommendations used to treat this condition.

Following are some suggestions for dealing with wintertime blues or blahs.
• Expose yourself to bright light in the winter months by heading outside into the sunshine. Even in the fall and winter the sun’s rays give off a healthy glow.
• Take walks during the morning or afternoon. Bundle up in a coat and take pleasure in the crisp, sunny weather.
• Stay physically active, exercise regularly, and plan events which you can enjoy in the wintertime.
• If able, head south for some wintertime vacations. If you are retired, become a snowbird and spend winter months in sunnier locations.
The winter months do have some sunny days and remember, spring is just around the corner.

Harold H. LeCrone, Jr., Ph.D. Copyright 2003