Have you been feeling sad lately, especially since the winter weather is upon us?
Do you usually feel sad or is this something that has cropped up since the days are getting shorter with
less sunlight? What is sadness, anyway? It is an emotion that you can have, bringing with it feelings
such as disappointment, disinterest, a low mood, helplessness, and hopelessness, to name just a few.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a real thing. It can happen when the seasons change and there is
less sunlight during the day. People can become less active, feeling like they are cooped up in their
homes. Seasonal changes can impact the way people think, feel, and act. It is as if you are a different
person, a person who is negative, withdrawn, and unable to enjoy life as you did just a few months ago.
If you notice that the way that you feel begins to change and improve when spring arrives, then you may
be suffering from SAD.
So, what is SAD? The type we are talking about today is known as winter-pattern SAD. Some people
may experience SAD during other seasons of the year for differing reasons and not related to the
amount of sunlight they get. However, this is not as common as winter-pattern SAD. Most people
experience SAD in the winter months. SAD is a type of depression with a seasonal pattern having some
of the following symptoms:
• Feeling depressed
• Losing interest in activities you once enjoyed
• Changes in appetite and/or weight
• Sleep changes
• Feeling sluggish or agitated
• Trouble concentrating
• Feeling hopeless or worthless
• Social withdrawal
• Anxiety
• Having thoughts about death or suicide
Many people have SAD but they do not know it, especially when living in Northern climates. People living
in New England and Alaska are much more likely to develop SAD than people living in Florida. SAD
happens when some of our brain chemicals do not function properly and this affects our mood. There
are several treatments for SAD, such as light therapy, mental health counseling, medications, and
nutritional supplements such as Vitamin D.
If you think you are experiencing SAD, your first step should be to discuss this with your health provider
and get some counseling to get you through a challenging time. Taking medication and talking about what is going on in your life can help to improve your symptoms and feel supported. It can also prevent some of the more severe symptoms of SAD from occurring and feeling more able to take control of your life.
