Seasonal Affective Disorder
Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, is a type of depression that occurs in the fall or winter months. Symptoms include increased food cravings, weight gain and social withdrawal. Some research shows that women are more likely to experience SAD than men but there's no clear way to predict who will get SAD or why some people develop it while others don't. Researchers believe that SAD is triggered by changes in season and daylight hours, but they aren't sure exactly why this happens or how much it affects us emotionally.
Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, is a type of depression that occurs in the fall or winter months.
Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, is a type of depression that occurs in the fall or winter months. It isn't a seasonal depression; it's a type of seasonal affective disorder. The reason some people find themselves depressed during winter is because they're getting less sunlight than they usually do—and bright light helps keep our mood up.
The primary symptom of SAD is depression.
Depression is a common symptom of seasonal affective disorder, and it can be caused by a number of factors. In fact, if you're feeling depressed for more than two weeks straight, it's important to contact your doctor.
Depression can be treated with therapy or medication. If you are experiencing SAD, here are some things that may help reduce symptoms:
Get outside! Even if the weather isn't ideal and you have to bundle up more than usual while walking around outside, getting some fresh air will help boost your mood and energy levels. This can even help counteract feelings of depression during winter months when days are shorter, and temperatures are colder.
Spend time doing activities that bring you joy—like playing with pets or going on adventures with friends—and try not to let yourself feel guilty about taking care of yourself during this time of year!
Symptoms include increased food cravings, weight gain and social withdrawal.
Cravings for carbohydrates and sweets.
Weight gain.
Social withdrawal.
SAD can affect individuals of any age.
SAD can affect individuals of any age, including children, teens and adults. SAD is more common in women than men and it is more common in people who live far from the equator. SAD is also more commonly found in individuals with a family history of mental illness.
Some research shows that women are more likely to experience SAD than men.
You may be wondering whether or not you have seasonal affective disorder. The answer to that question is simple: it's hard to know if you're experiencing SAD unless you go through a formal diagnosis process, which involves a health professional asking questions about your symptoms and running some tests on your brain and body. But there are a few things to keep in mind when trying to figure out if SAD might apply to you.
In general, women are more susceptible than men to depression and mood disorders like SAD (although there is still much research left to be done on this topic). The reasons for this aren't fully understood, but one theory suggests that estrogen levels play a role. Estrogen tends to make women more emotional—and therefore more likely than men at any given time in their menstrual cycle or pregnancy cycle or postpartum period—and so having lower estrogen levels during colder months could make them more susceptible as well.
If the idea of being "less" productive because of seasonal changes doesn't sound appealing (or even possible), then don't worry; there are steps anyone can take toward feeling better during those months when it seems like everyone around them is suffering from some sort of winter blues!
Researchers believe that SAD is triggered by changes in season and daylight hours.
As the seasons change, and the days become shorter, it's not uncommon to feel more tired. This is because your body's circadian rhythm—the internal clock that regulates sleep and wakefulness—is affected by light exposure. When you're exposed to less light during winter months, you may experience less melatonin production (a hormone that helps regulate sleep), which makes it harder to fall asleep at night.
Researchers believe that SAD is triggered by changes in season and daylight hours: it's more common in the fall and winter months when there's less sunlight exposure each day than during spring or summer months when there are longer periods of natural light each day. However, some research suggests that this disorder can occur at any time of year if you live far enough from the equator (north or south) where daylight hours vary dramatically throughout the year.
The exact cause of SAD remains unknown.
As with many mental health conditions, the exact cause of seasonal affective disorder remains unknown.
There are a number of theories about what causes SAD, but one thing is certain: not everyone who lives in a northern climate develops symptoms. Some people are more likely to develop SAD than others.
The most accepted theory about what causes SAD comes from research by Norman E. Rosenthal in 1984 and later by Dr. Alfred Lewy at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). This theory suggests that changes in season and daylight hours may trigger the disorder. If you live far enough north where seasons change drastically within a short period of time during the year and experience darkness for longer periods each day during winter months than your body may be unable to adjust properly to seasonal changes that normally occur gradually over time; this can lead you to experience depression symptoms during those times when there is less sunlight available outside your home or office window than normal
Certain people are more likely to develop SAD than others, including those who have close family members with mental illnesses, live far north or south of the equator or have a history of mood disorders such as anxiety or depression.
Fortunately, SAD is treatable. If you are struggling with symptoms of seasonal depression and would like to discuss possible treatment options, please don't hesitate to contact a mental health professional.
You can also take steps to minimize the effects of seasonal depression in your daily life. For example:
Get outside as much as possible during daylight hours, even if only for a few minutes at a time. Even small amounts of sunlight can help boost your mood and energy levels if you're prone to seasonal depression.
Spend time with people who make you feel good about yourself (and vice versa). Spending time alone tends not only to make us feel worse but also makes it harder for us to see ourselves objectively when we do finally reconnect with others again later on down the road after feeling low enough that we've reached out for help addressing our issues directly rather than just ignoring them until they go away by themselves which doesn't always happen (or happens very rarely).
Therapy helps individuals learn how to cope with their symptoms and discover unhealthy patterns in their thinking and behaviors.
Therapy can help individuals learn how to cope with their symptoms, identify unhealthy patterns in their thinking and behaviors.
Therapists may also recommend medication to treat the symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder.
Medication, such as antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs, can help relieve some of the symptoms associated with SAD. However, these medications are not a cure for SAD and should be used in conjunction with therapy to treat the disorder.
Therapists help clients identify cycles in their lives that make them more prone to experiencing SAD and teach them coping skills to overcome it.
Therapists help clients identify cycles in their lives that make them more prone to experiencing SAD and teach them coping skills to overcome it. For example, a client may be experiencing extreme work stress during the winter months and then feel unmotivated or depressed when he gets home. The therapist will help him recognize this pattern, set reasonable expectations for himself, and find ways to manage the stress at work or outside of his job (for example, by exercising). Therapists also help clients identify unhealthy patterns in their thinking and behaviors so they can better understand how these patterns affect how they cope with life's challenges.
Conclusion
If you or someone you know has been experiencing symptoms of SAD, it is important to seek help from a therapist. Your therapist will work with you to determine the best course of action for treating your condition. They may recommend therapy or medication, but most importantly they can help you feel better and live a healthy life!