What is seasonal affective disorder? What are the causes of such a condition? Is there any way to prevent this mental disorder? So, you have queries about SAD. You want to know what it is and how to manage it. The seasonal affective disorder is a mental condition associated with seasons. Yes, it is a type of depression that one might experience at a specific time of year. For example, one can develop this type of depression in the fall, and it might continue till the winter. The worst thing is that you can have this condition every fall.
SAD will make you moody and less energetic. However, you will start noticing improvements after the winter. You will be fine during the summer months. There will be no such feelings anymore. If you want to know more about this mental condition, you can go through the following seasonal affective disorder explained. We will cover all the possible aspects.
WHAT IS SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER?
It is a mental disorder that makes you depressed during a specific season. Once the season is over, you will feel better. However, you might experience the same condition again next year at the same time. Hence, you can treat it to avoid reoccurrence. Different treatments are available for SAD. Yes, you can consider medications, psychotherapy, and light therapy. Your doctor will decide the treatment based on the severity of your condition.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
* Feeling moody almost every day
* Feeling less energetic
* Losing interest in all preferred activities
* Feeling sleepy and sleeping too much
* Experiencing concentration problems
* Feeling worthless and guilty all the time
* Losing interest in life
These thoughts can make life miserable. You will be struggling hard to balance your personal and professional life. However, you might experience these symptoms during early winter. Some might start getting symptoms in the late fall. But these symptoms will go away in the spring and summer. Also, some people might develop this condition in spring and summer. But this is rare. Moreover, symptoms might be mild or severe. Some even cannot realize that they are going through a mental disorder. Here are symptoms associated with seasons.
FALL & WINTER SYMPTOMS
Some symptoms are specific to winter. We know it as the winter depression. Here are the symptoms.
* Craving for high carb foods
* Low energy and fatigue
* Oversleeping
* Weight gain
SPRING & SUMMER SYMPTOMS
You might have some specific symptoms during spring and summer. Here are the symptoms of summer depression.
* Weight loss
* Trouble sleeping
* Anxiety & irritation
* Poor appetite
You will have an increased risk when you have bipolar disorder. Also, you will develop season-specific symptoms with bipolar disorder.
CAN I SEE A DOCTOR?
Yes, you will have to see a doctor. The symptoms are not permanent, and they will go away even if you do not do anything. But you will have to go through the same condition again every year. It will impact your physical and mental well-being. Also, it will influence your life and the lives of your family members. You might develop suicidal thoughts and cause a lot of stress to your family. It is like any other health issue, and you can recover fast with proper treatment. There will be no fear of developing these symptoms again.
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES?
There is no specific cause of SAD. However, the following factors can increase the risk.
* DROP IN THE SEROTONIN LEVELS: Serotonin is a brain chemical that impacts your mood. When there is a drop in your serotonin level, you might have SAD. You can treat the condition by getting adequate sun exposure. Reduced sunlight will drop the serotonin level and cause depression.
* CIRCADIAN RHYTHM: The sunlight exposure will be less in fall and winter. The absence of sunlight will disrupt the internal clock of the human body. It will lead to depression.
* CHANGE IN MELATONIN LEVELS: Seasonal changes disrupt the melatonin levels in the human body. It affects mood and sleep patterns. These are the symptoms of SAD.
By getting adequate sun exposure, you can minimize the risk of SAD.
WHO IS AT RISK?
Women are at increased risk. Yes, women experience this mental disorder more than men. Also, younger adults are more susceptible than older ones. Here are a few factors that might increase your risk of getting SAD.
* DEPRESSION: If you have depression, the symptoms might worsen in winter or summer.
* FAMILY HISTORY: If any of your family members has depression, you can develop this mental condition.
* VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY: Our skin creates vitamin D with sun exposure. Vitamin D can increase serotonin production and minimize the risk of SAD. If you do not eat vitamin D-rich food or get adequate sun exposure, you may experience vitamin D deficiency which may lead to SAD.
* NOT LIVING CLOSE TO THE EQUATOR: You might have this condition if you live far south or north of the equator. The longer summer days and decreased sunlight in the winter months lead to depression.
WHAT ARE THE COMPLICATIONS?
You might develop complications if you do not address the condition. SAD is a mental condition that can make your life worse. You will have negative thoughts and less energy. Some might develop suicidal thoughts. These things will impact the quality of your life. Also, you can experience the following complications.
* Suicidal thoughts
* Concentration issues
* Eating disorders
* Anxiety
* Substance abuse
HOW TO PREVENT IT
There is no proven way to prevent this condition. However, you can minimize the risk by following a few steps. Also, you will have to manage symptoms at the early stage to prevent further complications. You can get an adequate amount of sunlight. Moreover, make sure that your vitamin D intake is proper. Both these can minimize the risk. Besides, whenever you experience any symptoms of depression, you can visit your doctor. Many people ignore depression and experience severe issues in the later stage. Hence, you will have to treat it immediately to minimize the impact.
SAD can impact your physical and mental health. Even if most symptoms are self-resolving, you cannot ignore them. With proper treatment, you can treat the condition. You will feel confident and motivated throughout the year.