Have you ever felt sad or low energy during certain times of the year? Many people feel this way, especially during the fall and winter when the days get shorter. This feeling, sometimes called the “winter blues,” can affect mood, energy, and even sleep. However, when these mood changes become more intense and last for months, it might be more than just a case of the winter blues. It could be seasonal affective disorder or SAD.
What is SAD?
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that happens at the same time each year, usually during the colder months. It's more common in fall and winter, called winter-pattern SAD, but some people also feel it in spring and summer, known as summer-pattern SAD.
For those with winter-pattern SAD, symptoms often include sleeping more, craving comfort foods (especially carbs), feeling tired, and withdrawing from friends and family, almost like hibernating. In summer-pattern SAD people may struggle with anxiety, trouble sleeping, and a loss of appetite.
Symptoms of SAD
· Feeling sad or empty most days
· Low energy and fatigue
· Losing interest in things you used to enjoy
· Difficulty concentrating
· Feeling guilty, hopeless, or worthless
With winter-pattern SAD, people might oversleep, gain weight, and feel like avoiding social events. For summer-pattern SAD, symptoms often include insomnia, weight loss, and restlessness.
Who Gets SAD?
SAD can affect anyone but is more common in young adults and women. People who live in areas with longer winters and shorter daylight hours and people with other metal health conditions, such as depression, may be more at risk.
What Can You Do?
If you think you or someone in your family might have SAD, talk to a healthcare provider like your primary care doctor or your child’s pediatrician. Treatment options include light therapy, which mimics sunlight, therapy to talk through feelings, and sometimes vitamin D or other medications.
For more information, visit trusted websites like the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) at nimh.nih.gov or the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) at samhsa.gov. If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, you can call or text 988 and press 0 to talk to someone for help anytime.