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As temperatures cool and the days get shorter, some people may begin to show signs of seasonal affective disorder.
SAD is a type of depression related to seasonal changes that typically occur during the fall and winter months.
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The mood disorder is more common in women and young people, as well as those who live in places with long winter nights, experts say.
Symptoms include feelings of hopelessness, reduced energy and concentration, social withdrawal, increased sleep, loss of interest in work or other activities, slow movements, increased appetite with weight gain, sadness and irritability.
A man sits at the end of a bed, deep in solemn thought
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The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) says symptoms can last from four to five months.
Treatments for SAD include light therapy using 10,000 lux light boxes, medications, vitamin D, and psychotherapy.
The Cleveland Clinc also recommends that people with the disorder eat a balanced diet, exercise, see friends, and spend more time outdoors.
The NIMH suggests that people with winter SAD should start treatment before fall to help prevent or reduce the effects of the disorder.
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However, the organization added, existing studies have found “no convincing evidence that starting light therapy or psychotherapy in advance could prevent the onset of depression.”
Millions of American adults can suffer from SAD, although many may not know they have it.
The Cleveland Clinic reports that about 5% of adults in the United States suffer from SAD and that about 10% to 20% of people in America can contract a milder form of the winter blues.
SAD is more common in people with major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder, and people with SAD tend to have other mental disorders as well.
In addition, the NIMH points out that SAD sometimes runs in families.
Scientists don’t fully understand what causes SAD, although research suggests that people with the condition may have reduced activity of the brain chemical serotonin. Others produce too much melatonin or may have lower vitamin D levels. Additionally, the way in which sunlight controls the levels of molecules that help maintain normal levels of serotonin does not appear to work well in people with the disease.
Alcohol or drug use could make symptoms worse, experts warn.
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People who think they have SAD are encouraged to speak about their concerns to a health care provider or mental health specialist.
Health care providers can diagnose a person with SAD if there are symptoms of major depression, depressive episodes that occur in a specific season or more frequently in a specific season than the rest of the day. ‘year.
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