Part 1: Understanding Seasonal Depression (SAD)
Juno Brown is a marketing professional who has been successfully managing their career for several years. They dig into projects with gusto and find a kind of mental high when presenting to customers. However, during the fall and winter seasons, they have consistently noticed a decline in their mood, energy levels, and overall motivation.
What Juno is feeling could be Seasonal Depression or Seasonal Affective Disorder.
Seasonal Depression, or SAD, is a condition that affects many individuals, typically during the fall and winter months. SAD leaves individuals feeling some of the same symptoms as general depression but typically has certain triggers as opposed to a constant state of depression. Be sure to talk to a therapist if you suspect having either SAD or general depression.
Introduction to SAD
What sets seasonal depression apart from general depression, is the timing. SAD is generally experienced in winter months, or the portion of the year when sunlight is decreased. According to the American Psychiatric Association (2020), nearly 5% of adults in the U.S. experience SAD for nearly 40% of the year. Of the 5% of people experiencing SAD, the majority of those are younger women. Knowing symptoms to watch for can help you determine whether you are a part of that 5%. Please note that symptoms for seasonal depression and general depression tend to be similar if not the same.
Causes and Triggers
Exploring the potential causes of seasonal depression can help you understand it better and possibly understand yourself better. It can also help you realize it’s not your fault that you are feeling a certain way.
SAD has many possible causes. It can be as simple as time zone changes and distance from the equator that alter circadian rhythms. Put in other terms, it’s darker earlier in the day, so your body is confused by the mixed cues. This can also contribute to a vitamin D deficiency, which has been found in people with SAD.
Causes of SAD can also be as complex as the individual chemistry of an individual’s brain. Since genes make proteins and those make neurotransmitters (or chemicals), you could have SAD genetically. According to Heather Jones in the article, Is Spring Depression Real? 25%-67 % of people with seasonal affective disorder have family members that have it as well. Although there is an unclear inheritance pattern in families, there are theories that connect the two.
Another possible cause of SAD is simply living away from the equator. As was mentioned before, decreased sunlight during the winter and longer days during the summer can take its toll.
Recognizing Symptoms
Let’s go back to Juno for a second. Their symptoms included persistent feelings of sadness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, changes in appetite, and disrupted sleep patterns. Recognizing the recurring pattern of these symptoms during the colder months, a mental health professional diagnosed them with Seasonal Affective Disorder. The diagnosis was based on a thorough assessment of symptoms, medical history, and a consideration of the seasonal nature of the depressive episodes.
Knowing symptoms to watch for in yourself as well as in those you love is very important to live a mentally healthy life.
In Juno’s case, together with the therapist, they have developed a multifaceted treatment plan. It involved a combination of psychotherapy, light therapy, and lifestyle adjustments, all of which will be covered in part 2.
So how do you know if you have seasonal affective disorder or possibly general depression? Ultimately that is for you to discuss with a therapist or counselor. If you believe you have any of the previously mentioned symptoms, please reach out to someone to create a treatment plan.
Further Reading and Sources
Centura. (2022, March 4). Vitamin D deficiency and seasonal depression | Centura Health. www.centura.org. https://www.centura.org/story/vitamin-d-deficiency-and-seasonal-depression
Cleveland Clinic. (2022, April 10). Seasonal depression (SAD) | Cleveland Clinic. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9293-seasonal-depression
Jones, H. (2022, March 9). What is spring depression? Verywell Health. https://www.verywellhealth.com/spring-depression-5215198#:~:text=Family%20history%3A%20About%2015%25%20of
Mayo Clinic. (2021, December 14). Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) - symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20364651
Medline Plus. (2019, May 1). Seasonal affective disorder: MedlinePlus genetics. Medlineplus.gov. https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/seasonal-affective-disorder/#causes
NIH. (2010, July). Brain basics: Genes at work in the brain. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/patient-caregiver-education/brain-basics-genes-work-brain#:~:text=Certain%20genes%20make%20proteins%20that
NIH. (2019, June). Seasonal affective disorder. NCCIH. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/seasonal-affective-disorder#:~:text=Low%20levels%20of%20vitamin%20D
Rogers Behavioral Health. (2020, March 6). How to tell the difference between seasonal affective disorder and depression. Rogers Behavioral Health. https://rogersbh.org/about-us/newsroom/blog/how-tell-difference-between-seasonal-affective-disorder-and-depression
Torres, F. (2020, October). Psychiatry.org - seasonal affective disorder (SAD). www.psychiatry.org. https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/seasonal-affective-disorder#:~:text=About%205%20percent%20of%20adults
