Seasonal Affective Disorder, also called SAD, is a type of depression that is believed to be related to a biochemical imbalance in the brain brought on by seasonal changes in sunlight patterns. In most cases, the episodes begin in fall or winter and remit in spring, and symptoms are similar to dysthymia or clinical depression. Summer-onset depression is a much less common type of SAD and usually begins in the late spring or early summer and goes away by winter.
As many as half a million people in the United States are believed to have winter-onset SAD. There are several distinctions that distinguish winter-onset SAD from dysthymia and other mood disorders. (The depressive pattern regularly begins and ends at the same time of year, the pattern has lasted two years without other non-seasonal types of depression, and seasonal depression outnumbers all non-seasonal depressions throughout a persons life.)
Not everyone with SAD will have the same symptoms. Common symptoms of winter-onset SAD include a change in appetite with weight gain or weight loss, cravings for sweet or starchy food, a drop in energy level, extreme fatigue, oversleeping, difficulty concentrating, irritability and anxiety, feelings of sadness and apathy, hypersensitivity to rejection and avoidance of social situations, and a loss of interest in pleasurable activities once enjoyed.
Sometimes a person with SAD may not feel depressed, but rather lack energy to perform everyday activities. It is possible that other medical conditions can create similar symptoms, so a medical checkup is a good idea. SAD can be a serious disorder and may require hospitalization, and there is also potential risk of suicide.
Treatment:
There are many effective treatments for people affected by Seasonal Affective Disorder, including light therapies, medication, and supplementation by the hormone melatonin. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy has demonstrated to be useful to alleviate symptoms.
Therapy with a skilled therapist will emphasize integrating components of a healthy lifestyle including: physical wellness, cognitive therapy, and creating a social network.