Do the shorter, darker days make you lethargic? Or put you in a bit of a funk?
It may mean you have a type of depression triggered by the calendar called seasonal affective disorder, or SAD.
It's a byproduct of shorter days and longer nights this time of year. Each year, around 5% of American adults – and probably many more – wrestle with SAD from September to March. The results can be significant, and four out of five people impacted are women.
What to know about seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
What are the symptoms of SAD?
Patients with SAD have all the hallmarks of a major depressive disorder, including irritability and anhedonia (not wanting to do things that you used to love to do), depressed mood, difficulty sleeping and appetite disturbance. You might crave carbohydrates and experience weight gain.
What causes SAD?
Sunlight regulates your sleep-wake cycle. When daylight hours begin to shrink in the fall, your body clock can get out of whack — even before daylight saving time ends. SAD is a sign your body is struggling with this natural seasonal reset.
The exact causes are unknown, but research points to some chemical culprits, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).
Some people with SAD make too much melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep, and may have an imbalance of serotonin, a brain chemical that affects mood. They may also have low levels of vitamin D, the so-called "sunshine vitamin," NIMH reports.
What's the best remedy for SAD?
Relief starts with a visit to your doctor, who will review your symptoms and make a diagnosis. He or she may prescribe an antidepressant and/or a vitamin D supplement and is almost sure to recommend light therapy.
Spending time — especially in the early morning and early evening — in front of a special therapy lamp that mimics natural sunlight can lift your mood and keep the winter blues at bay. Some individuals use a therapy lamp, on a timer, to wake them every morning. They set it to come on again when they get home after work. Some also have a small therapy lamp on their desk at the office. Many insurers will cover some or all of the lamps' cost, but only with a doctor's prescription.
Some SAD patients also respond well to seasonal adjustments to their usual medications and some benefit from therapy.
What else do people need to know?
The brain is just like any other organ in the body, meaning things can go awry. If you think you have seasonal depression, don't be ashamed to get help. It doesn't mean you're weak or crazy. Many people go through SAD every year, and your physician can help you find the best treatment for you.
