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Depression affects millions of people, but when you’re only depressed during a certain season, you likely have Seasonal Affective Disorder (also known as SAD).
SAD is most prevalent in winter, but researchers are still learning how it disrupts an individual’s life.
It’s not uncommon to experience short periods of sadness or to just not feel like your usual self. Sometimes, these mood changes align with the beginning and end of a season.
Some people, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, experience the “‘winter blues’ when the days get shorter in the fall and winter and feel better in the spring when the longer days return.” In some cases, mood changes are more serious and impact a person’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
SAD is most likely linked to the decrease in natural light exposure, which can disrupt the body’s circadian rhythm and lead to hormonal changes that influence mood. Isolation that can accompany winter may also affect mental and emotional health.
SAD can affect anyone, regardless of age. However, seniors can be more adversely affected because they tend to be more isolated and have limited social opportunities. The elderly also tend to have mobility or other health issues that prevent them from getting outside. The decrease in vitamin D can also cause SAD, as natural light is a main source of vitamin D.
Seasonal Affective Disorder is treatable, most commonly with light therapy, especially for the elderly. This therapy uses a light box to increase the body’s exposure to light in the winter.
The box emits light that has a similar effect on the body as sunlight, so it can be a great way to regulate the circadian rhythm and control hormone levels and neurotransmitters that affect mood and energy. In most cases, light box therapy is administered for 30 minutes per day. Ensuring a balanced diet is another way to treat SAD, as well as encouraging engagement in social events. In certain cases, anti-depressants may be used.
Instances of depression among older adults are often misattributed to other issues, such as cognitive decline or normal effects of aging. A strong knowledge of the elderly patient’s medical history and close monitoring of any changes are important in identifying SAD. Being familiar with how they act at other times of the year will also be helpful when determining if a patient has SAD or not.
Though a definitive cause is still unknown, researchers have focused on winter-pattern SAD because it’s more prevalent, according to NIMH.
Studies indicate that people with SAD have lower levels of serotonin, the chemical that regulates mood.
“Research also suggests that sunlight affects levels of molecules that help maintain normal serotonin levels,” the NIMH website stated. “Shorter daylight hours may prevent these molecules from functioning properly, contributing to decreased serotonin levels in the winter. Vitamin D deficiency may exacerbate these problems in people with Seasonal Affective Disorder because vitamin D is believed to promote serotonin activity. In addition to vitamin D consumed in food, the body produces vitamin D when exposed to sunlight on the skin.”
Other studies suggest that SAD relates to altering levels of melatonin, which is a hormone important for maintaining the normal sleep-wake cycle. People who have SAD, according to a Vicksburg News report, “produce too much melatonin which can increase sleepiness and lead to oversleeping.”
Millions of Americans experience Seasonal Affective Disorder, according to NIMH, although many may not know they have the common disorder. In most cases, people start to experience SAD as a young adult, and it occurs more often in women than men. Seasonal Affective Disorder is also more common among residents in northern regions with fewer daylight hours in winter months.
Seasonal Affective Disorder is also more likely in those who have depression, a bipolar diagnosis or other mental health diagnoses. Seasonal Affective Disorders can sometimes be genetic and “more common in people who have relatives with other mental illnesses,” according to the NIMH.
Seasonal Affective Disorder is most prevalent in winter months, and it can wreak havoc on a person’s life. Knowledge of the disorder, and the patient’s medical history — especially mental health and current symptoms — is vital in being able to identify and treat Seasonal Affective Disorder. Early intervention and treatment are important and will help achieve positive health outcomes for the patient.
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