Imagine lying in bed one fall morning staring out your window. Instead of seeing the vibrant colors of the changing leaves, you feel hollow or empty inside. You choose to remain in bed and sleep the day away using PTO yet again, refraining from going to work. This empty or hollow feeling is referred to as seasonal depression, or seasonal affective disorder
What is Seasonal Depression, or Seasonal Affective Disorder?
Seasonal depression, also called seasonal affective disorder (SAD), is a type of depression. You may be triggered by the change of seasons and most commonly begins in late fall.
What is Depression?
For a period of time greater than 2 weeks, 5 or more of the following 9 symptoms are present: depressed mood, lack of pleasure from previously enjoyable activities or hobbies, increased guilt, poor sleep, appetite changes, reduced concentration (i.e. often distracted, dwelling on negative thoughts), low energy, decreased overall movement, and/or suicidal thoughts, which causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
What are the Symptoms of Seasonal Depression, or Seasonal Affective Disorder?
For winter-pattern Seasonal Depression, additional specific symptoms may include:
- Oversleeping (hypersomnia)
- Overeating, particularly with a craving for carbohydrates
- Weight gain
- Social withdrawal (feeling like “hibernating”)
What are the Causes of Seasonal Depression, or Seasonal Affective Disorder?
- Your biological clock (circadian rhythm). The reduced level of sunlight in fall and winter may cause winter-onset Seasonal Depression. This decrease in sunlight may disrupt your body's internal clock and lead to feelings of depression.
- Serotonin levels. A drop in serotonin, a brain chemical (neurotransmitter) that affects mood, might play a role in Seasonal Depression. Reduced sunlight can cause a drop in serotonin that may trigger depression.
- Melatonin levels. The change in season can disrupt the balance of the body's level of melatonin, which plays a role in sleep patterns and mood.
What is the Prevalence of Seasonal Depression, or Seasonal Affective Disorder?
- In a given year, about 5 percent of the U.S. population experiences seasonal depression.
- Four out of five people who have seasonal depression are women.
- The main age of onset of seasonal depression is between 20 and 30 years of age, however, symptoms can appear earlier.
- The prevalence of seasonal depression is anywhere from 0-10 percent of the population, depending on the geographic region.
How Do I Get Diagnosed for Seasonal Depression, or Seasonal Affective Disorder?
Psychological evaluation. To check for signs of depression, your health care provider or mental health professional asks about your symptoms, thoughts, feelings and behavior patterns.
Solution. DrQuit offers a detailed psychological evaluation as a part of its same-day appointment system. Medication can even be prescribed during your first visit. So, if you want to quit feeling depressed due to the change of season, Book an Appointment with DrQuit.
Remember, it’s more important to embrace the change of seasons than to fear them
We are here for you every step of the way
DrQuit, your First Step…because you’re worth it.
