Wow! I can’t believe it’s almost the end of December and a new year is just around the corner! I hope everyone is able to enjoy some time with family and friends this holiday season. Goodbye 2023. Hello 2024.
With the holidays and the change of season can come a mixed bag of emotions. For some, it is a time for joy and connecting with friends and loved ones. For others, it can be stressful and especially challenging if you are impacted with mental illness. Many people go through periods when they feel sad or unlike their usual selves. Sometimes, these mood changes begin and end when the seasons change. If you have noticed significant changes in your mood and behavior when the seasons change, you may be experiencing Seasonal Affective Disorder, also known as SAD.
SAD is a type of depression characterized by a recurrent seasonal pattern, with symptoms lasting 4-5 months out of the year. The signs and symptoms of SAD include those associated with depression, as well as disorder-specific symptoms that differ from winter-pattern and summer-pattern SAD. Not every person with SAD experiences the depression symptoms listed below. To learn more about the signs and symptoms of depression, visit the National Institute of Mental Health.
Symptom of depression can include:
- Persistent sad, anxious or empty mood most of the day, nearly every day, for at least 2 weeks.
- Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism, irritability, frustration or restlessness, guilt, worthlessness or helplessness.
- Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies or activities.
- Decreased energy, fatigue, or feeling slowed down.
- Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
- Changes in sleep or appetite or unplanned weight changes.
- Physical aches, pains or digestive problems that do not have a clear cause and do not go away with treatment.
- Thoughts of death and suicide or suicide attempts.
For winter-pattern SAD, additional symptoms can include:
- Oversleeping.
- Overeating, particularly craving carbohydrates, leading to weight gain.
- Social withdrawal or hibernating.
For summer-pattern SAD, additional symptoms can include:
- Trouble sleeping.
- Poor appetite, leading to weight loss.
- Restlessness or agitation, and anxiety.
- Violent and aggressive behavior.
Winter-pattern SAD should not be confused with the holiday blues, which are feelings of sadness or anxiety brought on by stresses at certain times of year. The depression associated with SAD is related to changes in daylight hours, not the calendar, so stresses associated with the holidays are not the same as SAD.
For more information on the cause, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of Seasonal Affective Disorder, please visit the National Institute of Mental Health – Seasonal Affective Disorder.
If you or someone you know is struggling or having thoughts of suicide, call, text, or chat with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. In life-threatening situations, call 911.
Stay happy, healthy, and safe! ~Sally~