When we approach months such as October, November, and December we think of cold weather, an extra hour of sleep and of course the HOLIDAYS!! What we tend to not think about is our emotions and thoughts. Often we may appear to become more tired, emotional and sometimes increase isolation from others. While it can be blamed on the time change, it could also be seasonal depression also known as Seasonal Affective Disorder.
What is Seasonal Affective Disorder? According to the Mayo Clinic, Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that’s related to changes in seasons — SAD begins and ends at about the same times every year. If you’re like most people with SAD, your symptoms start in the fall and continue into the winter months, sapping your energy and making you feel moody. Don’t short change your emotions during this time as it can lead to longer term affects such as major depression disorder.
What are symptoms of SAD? Since SAD is a subtype of Major Depression Disorder, it often has the same symptoms. I will list a few:
Feeling depressed most of the day, nearly every day
Feeling hopeless or worthless
Having low energy
Losing interest in activities you once enjoyed
Having problems with sleeping
Feeling sluggish or agitated
Having difficulty concentrating
Having frequent thoughts of death or suicide
Here are some Fall/Winter SAD symptoms:
Irritability
Tiredness or low energy
Problems getting along with other people
Hypersensitivity to rejection
Heavy, “leaden” feeling in the arms or legs
Oversleeping
Appetite changes, especially a craving for foods high in carbohydrates
Weight gain
When should I be concerned about SAD?