How to Deal with Seasonal Depression
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or more commonly known as seasonal depression is a form of depression that occurs in tandem to the changes in seasons. Bouts of seasonal depression primarily start in the months of autumn and continue throughout winter, with a minority of cases happening in the spring and summer seasons.
Symptoms of seasonal depression (for both fall/winter and spring/summer) are parallel to the general symptoms attributed to depression, with the most common ones being:
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Changes in appetite
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Having low energy
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Losing interest in activities you once enjoyed
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Having problems sleeping
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Having difficulty concentrating
Causes of seasonal depression vary case by case, but the three major contributors to seasonal depression are the offset of a person’s circadian rhythm, a decrease in serotonin levels, and a change in melatonin levels; all of which is a direct result of the days becoming shorter.
If gone untreated, seasonal depression can lead to such things as social withdrawal or substance abuse, and can even evoke other mental health disorders such as anxiety and suicidal thoughts.
Treatment options for seasonal depression are either through light therapy or with medications. Light therapy stimulates the lost exposure to light that would normally occur in other seasons which helps to regulate both melatonin and serotonin levels in the body. For medications, antidepressants are normally prescribed, especially when cases of seasonal depression are exceptionally severe. The medication route is often accompanied by therapy sessions in which the individual's feedback of the medication is logged and/or adjusted.
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