Things are different right now and we have probably all felt our mood shift at times. But there is another reason why we are prone to feeling sad right now (even outside COVID). It’s called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). That’s right, the winter blues has an official name and diagnosis, it’s not just “all in our minds”, and we all can be affected by it.
During winter, as the days get shorter, the nights get longer and the cold sets in, we can start to feel our mood shift. Our motivation can start to wane in winter meaning we may choose to stay in binge watching Netflix over going out with friends, hit the snooze button more on our morning alarm or struggle to go for that walk or visit the gym like we would in the warmer months.
What is SAD?
SAD, or Seasonal Affective Disorder is a type of depression that is related to the change in weather and seasons. We might commonly refer to it as the “winter blues” as the feelings of sadness tend to occur at the same time each year.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms have similar symptoms to depression, loss of motivation, loss of pleasure in things you normally would find pleasurable, changes in sleep or eating. You may want to sleep more, crave sugary foods or carbohydrates, but feel tired and lack energy.
What causes it?
SAD has been linked to changes in the body’s circadian rhythms that also change with the season. It may also been linked to how much exposure we have to the sun for example. The sun's UV rays influence our vitamin D and melatonin production which in turn influence our serotonin production. Serotonin is the neurochemical that is linked to sleep, diet and mood. All three things that change when our mood is low or we are experiencing depression. SAD is found more in colder climates and countries that have very short days and long winters. It is rare in Australia. However, although rare, given the shorter days, less exposure to sunlight the chemicals in our brains can shift in winter meaning our mood also often changes, hence the term, the winter blues.
What should I do if I think I have SAD (or just feeling sad)?
Symptoms need to be present over several years before a diagnosis may be made. some things you can do include:
· Seek professional help for an assessment and chat about treatment options
· Get some sunlight on your skin (remember to still act responsibly in the sun)
· Go for a short walk to help production of happy feel good chemicals in your brain
· Talk to a friend about how you are feeling
Comments