Seasonal affective depression (SAD), also known as seasonal depression, is a type of depression that is triggered by seasonal changes. In 4-season countries, this condition often starts during the early fall or early winter and goes away during the spring and summer.
There is also a mild version of seasonal depression called the winter blues, where a person feels a little sad during cold weather. This is because the weather will keep a person stuck at home, unable to carry out activities as usual, and more often enveloped in dark days.
Symptoms of Seasonal Depression
Seasonal depression is experienced more by women than men, where the condition often affects daily life, including feelings and thoughts. Seasonal depression is generally classified as a form of major depressive disorder with seasonal patterns. Some of the symptoms that can appear are:
-
Excessive sleeping (a specific symptom of winter SAD)
-
Overeating, especially carbohydrates, resulting in weight gain (a specific symptom of winter SAD)
-
Social withdrawal (winter SAD specific symptoms)
-
Sad, anxious or empty feeling (most of the day and almost every day for at least 2 weeks)
-
Extreme fatigue and lack of energy
-
Feelings of hopelessness
-
Feelings of irritability, frustration, or restlessness
-
Feelings of guilt, worthlessness or helplessness
-
Loss of interest in normally enjoyable activities (including social activities)
-
Exhausted, or drained of energy
-
Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
-
Changes in sleep patterns or appetite
-
Unintentional weight change
Specific symptoms of seasonal depression in winter are excessive sleeping, binge eating, and withdrawal.
Causes
Seasonal depression is more likely to occur in people who already have mental health problems, such as depression or bipolar. However, it is not yet known what causes seasonal depression. However, there are some theories based on research that can explain it, namely:
1. Serotonin
People with seasonal depression experience decreased levels of serotonin, which is the hormone responsible for regulating mood. Furthermore, the molecules that help maintain normal serotonin levels are affected by sunlight. When daylight hours are shorter, or the body does not get enough sunlight, these molecules do not function properly. As a result, there is a drop in serotonin levels. This results in mood swings, most commonly in the winter or rainy season.
2. Vitamin D
Whether or not vitamin D is sufficient for the body also affects seasonal depression. This is because vitamin D is believed to increase serotonin activity. The main vitamin D we get is through its activation through sunlight. During the reduced exposure to sunlight in winter or rainy season, there is a tendency for a person to experience a decrease in vitamin D levels.
3. Melatonin
People with seasonal depression produce too much melatonin, which can increase drowsiness and cause excessive sleep. Melatonin helps to maintain the body's daily rhythm of the night-night cycle. When this rhythm is disrupted, it becomes difficult for a person to adjust to seasonal changes, leading to disruptions in mood, sleep patterns, and behavior.
Seasonal depression is associated with decreased serotonin, increased melatonin, and vitamin D deficiency.
Diagnosis
If you feel that you are experiencing symptoms of seasonal depression, then seek medical attention at the nearest service facility. Avoid self-diagnosing as it could be triggered by factors other than seasonal changes. There are several criteria that must be met to get a diagnosis of seasonal depression, namely:
-
Experiencing the symptoms mentioned above
-
Depressive episodes last during a certain season (winter or summer) for at least 2 consecutive years
-
Depressive episodes are more common in certain seasons than others
Treatment
There are 4 main categories that can be used to treat seasonal depression, namely light therapy, psychotherapy, antidepressant medication, and vitamin D. Here's an explanation:
-
Light therapy: using special lights to make up for the lack of sunlight exposure during dark days
-
Psychotherapy (cognitive behavioral therapy): focuses on changing negative thoughts about the season to more positive ones and teaches people to engage in enjoyable activities to compensate for the loss of interest.
-
Antidepressant medication: changes the way the brain produces or uses certain chemicals that affect mood or stress, thereby improving mood
-
Vitamin D: vitamin D supplementation is likely to be effective in alleviating symptoms
So, seasonal depression is a type of depression that is triggered by seasonal changes, mainly occurring during the winter (4-season countries) or rainy season (2-season countries). Is it clear yet Ladies? Let's comment!
Let's download the Newfemme application now to get tips and other interesting information!