S.A.D - Seasonal Affective Disorder

Last weekend the clocks went back which means for all of us that Winter has arrived. 

Aaron Burden

Darker days and colder weather can bring with them a feeling of low spirits. So, what is Seasonal Affective Disorder and what makes people susceptible to it?

What are the best ways to treat it?

S.A.D is a particular form of major depression, triggered by changes in the seasons.  It might be that you suffer from a lack of energy, a reduction in the enjoyment of activities or that you need more sleep than normal.  Some cases of S.A.D are so affected, and these symptoms are so severe that they are literally unable to work or function normally.

In addition to these depressive episodes, S.A.D is characterised by other symptoms

Chronic Oversleeping and Extreme cravings for Carbohydrates – which in turn will lead to weight gain.  To clarify – In usual cases of severe depression the suffer will show disrupted sleep patterns and a loss of appetite.

Make no mistake, S.A.D is not a lighter version of depression in reality the two are the same illness and those who truly have S.A.D are equally as ill as those with major depressive episodes.

Around 10-15% of the population has sub-syndromal S.A.D. These individuals struggle through autumn and winter and suffer from many of the same symptoms, but they do not have clinical depression. And in the northern hemisphere, as many as one in three of us may suffer from “winter blues” where we feel flat or disinterested in things and regularly fatigued.

One theory for why this condition exists is related to evolution.

Around 80% of S.A.D sufferers are women, particularly those in early adulthood. In older women, the prevalence of S.A.D goes down and some researchers believe that this pattern is linked to the behavioural cycles of our ancient ancestors. “Because it affects such a large proportion of the population in a mild to moderate form, a lot of people in the field do feel that S.A.D is a remnant from our past, relating to energy conservation,” says Robert Levitan, a professor at the University of Toronto. “Ten thousand years ago, during the ice age, this biological tendency to slow down during the wintertime was useful, especially for women of reproductive age because pregnancy is very energy-intensive.”

But now we have a 24-hour society, we’re expected to be active all the time and it’s a nuisance. However, as to why a small proportion of people experience it so severely that it’s completely disabling, we don’t know.

For those on the S.A.D spectrum, there are treatments available – some are more Holistic in their approach, such as Bright-Light Therapy

This is an artificial means of stimulation and stimulates the brain.  According to the Mayo Clinic website it is very important to use a S.A.D specific ultraviolet filtered light otherwise it can be dangerous.

For those most severe, this could be combined with antidepressant therapy but if you suffer from S.A.D you should always speak to your own GP.