By: Kathy Hubbard
Let’s be clear, there’s a big difference between having the winter blues and seasonal depression. People often say that they suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD), but now that I’m reading about the signs and symptoms of this mental health disorder as described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR), I wonder if it’s true.
SAD is a major depressive disorder with seasonal pattern, according to the American Psychiatric Association. “People with SAD experience mood changes and symptoms similar to depression. The symptoms usually occur during the fall and winter months when there is less sunlight and usually improve with the arrival of spring. The most difficult months for people with SAD in the United States tend to be January and February.”
APA goes on to say that sufferers often describe distressing and overwhelming symptoms that interfere with their daily lives. An unnamed person wrote the following on a mental health forum:
“My main problem is that I am not motivated to do basic things like bathing, washing my face or brushing my teeth. I struggle to get up in the morning, and although I’m sleepy at bedtime I don’t feel like going to bed. My mood is low. I mainly just feel irritable and not a lot else. I never look forward to the day, even if I’m going to be doing something I normally enjoy.”
APA says that common symptoms of SAD include fatigue, weight gain associated with overeating and cravings for carbohydrates.
“SAD symptoms can vary from mild to severe and can include many symptoms similar to major depression, such as feeling sad or having a depressed mood; loss of interest or pleasure in activities previously enjoyed; changes in appetite; changes in sleep, usually sleeping too much; loss of energy or increased fatigue despite increased sleep hours; increase in purposeless physical activity (e.g., inability to sit still, pacing, handwringing) or slowed movements or speech (these actions must be severe enough to be observable to others.)
Other symptoms include a feeling of worthlessness or guilt, feeling unable to think clearly, concentrate or make decisions. And some people have thoughts of death or suicide. Please, if you have thoughts about suicide, go to the emergency department or call the crisis & suicide lifeline 988.
SAD affects more women than men and more people in the northern states than the south. It’s most common among people between the ages of 18 and 30 and can affect those with other mood disorders.
Back in September, I introduced you to Laura Bonneville, M.Ed., LPC, NCC, a licensed professional counselor and nationally certified counselor who is a team member at Bonner General Health Family Practice Clinic. I asked her to tell us the difference between SAD and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). She said, “One of the key differences is that, with MDD, symptoms persist throughout the year, whereas with SAD, symptoms occur in a seasonal pattern, generally in the fall or winter. Both SAD and MDD can lead to cognitive and functional impairment. If this happens to you, please speak with your primary care provider before symptoms worsen or lead to a crisis. There are a number of interventions that can provide relief.”
The operative word in her reply is to see your primary care provider. Bonneville said that “if you’re experiencing any of the symptoms including feeling down or sad, losing interest in activities, feeling fatigued, noticing changes in your appetite and/or sleep, or some other functional impairment, you should visit your primary care provider.”
Other than the fact that the lack of sunlight may trigger the condition, researchers really don’t know what causes it. Speculation includes brain chemical imbalance, vitamin D deficiency, over production of melatonin, or just the fact that people with SAD often have negative thoughts about winter.
I asked Bonneville if there were some “home remedies” such as vitamins or supplements that might help? “It is outside the scope of my practice to discuss supplements or medications, but when you visit your primary care provider, they partner with you to create a plan that may include a number of treatments for SAD, including, medications, psychotherapy, light therapy, or increased exposure to sunlight,” she replied.
Anyone want to move to Florida? Me neither. Better to call BGH Family Practice at 208-265-2221.
Kathy Hubbard is a member of the Bonner General Health Foundation Advisory Council. She can be reached at kathyleehubbard@yahoo.com. This article was written for publication in the Bonner County Daily Bee on January 15, 2024.
