Seasonal Affective Disorder - Depression
One interesting type of depression many people do not realize they have is seasonal affective disorder, often called SAD for short. SAD is a type of depression that occurs during seasonal changes. A person may find their mood changes for example, as fall turns to winter and the days get shorter.
There is a misconception that exists about SAD, suggesting people only develop SAD during the cold months of winter. People can also develop mood changes associated with SAD during the summer. Sometimes the symptoms are different depending on the season, but the doctors usually treat the depression similarly.
Overview of SAD - What It Is and Is Not
There is a large spectrum of disorders one can classify as depressive disorders or mood disorders resulting in some form of depression. Depression may range from mild to moderate or from moderate to severe.
One form of depression develops when the seasons change. For some people, this change in season results in a change of mood, often a change from positive to depressed. More commonly people develop SAD during times of the year when the days are shorter; however some people get depressed during the warmer months of summer.
Researchers are not entirely certain why some people develop depression during seasonal changes and others do not. Some hypothesize people with SAD may have some connection with bipolar disorder. Bipolar Disorder is a form of depression characterized by major depression followed by periods of abnormal highs or "mania".
If you have a family history of depression or bipolar disorder, you may be more at risk for SAD. Like many forms of depression, SAD is more common among women than it is in men.
Diagnosing and Treating Seasonal Affective Disorder
A proper diagnosis by a trained doctor is needed if you suspect you may have any form of depression including seasonal affective disorder. Here are some symptoms your doctor may look for to decide whether you have SAD or a related mental health disorder.
- You feel depressed during certain times of the year, typically in the summer or during the late fall or early winter months.
- You experience depression associated with certain holidays or vacations.
- You experience these depressive episodes for two or more years.
- Symptoms of mania or hypomania, where you feel unusually high and may engage in reckless behaviors.
- You have less energy than normal.
- You feel more prone to sleep more or experience insomnia.
- You have a tendency to gain weight during the winter months or you may lose weight.
Once a doctor diagnoses seasonal affective disorder, he or she may recommend many different treatments. Sometimes doctors prescribe antidepressants in patients experiencing moderate to severe symptoms. Other doctors find light therapy is helpful for many patients with mild SAD.
Light therapy involves the use of a special light that has a powerful level of brightness, called "lux" that can mimic the light experienced during sunnier days. While no light can offer as much radiance as the sun, a person using a light for therapy will gain brightness from a bulb of 10,000 lux, whereas the normal lighting in a household room or office rarely exceeds 400-500 lux.
With the help of extra lighting and antidepressants, and some lifestyle changes your doctor may recommend, you should start feeling better and regain control of your life, your moods and your attitude.
Keep in mind light therapy, like antidepressants, does come with risks. For example, some patients find they are more anxious than normal or develop headaches when using light therapy. For patients with a history of mania, light therapy may worsen their condition. This is one reason it is important you talk with your doctor before you begin using light therapy to treat any type of depression, including seasonal affective disorder.