Surviving Winter

Surviving winter…

It’s February, so by now we should be well settled into winter. It’s really not that easy. Winters are hard here in North Dakota and Minnesota.  I think this is something we can all agree on. It’s cold, it’s icy, it gets dark early, and the months seem to creep by real slowly.

Many people notice that their mood may shift during the winter months, which is actually pretty natural, but sometimes it’s not something you can just shake off. So how do you know if this shift is the “natural shift” or something to be more concerned about, such as seasonal affective disorder?

Seasonal Affective Disorder, also referred to as SAD, is a type of depression that is related to the changes in seasons. Symptoms typically start in the fall or early winter, and continue throughout the winter months. Most of the time, the symptoms begin to improve as spring and summer approach.  The cause of SAD is not completely known, but some factors are thought to include changes in your circadian rhythm due to decreased exposure to sunlight, a decrease in serotonin levels, and a disruption of melatonin levels which effects sleep patterns and mood. There are several risk factors that may put someone at a higher risk of experiencing SAD. These include having a family history of SAD or other depressive disorders, having an already diagnosed depressive disorder or bipolar disorder, and living far (either north or south) from the equator. Additionally, younger adults are at a higher risk for SAD compared to older adults and women are diagnosed with SAD four times more often than men.

It’s important not to ignore symptoms of SAD. Of course it’s natural to have days when people feel more down, however if this continues for several days and involves symptoms of SAD, you should consult your healthcare provider. Here’s what to watch for.

Signs/symptoms of SAD:

• Feeling down, depressed, or hopeless most of the time
• Experiencing feelings of worthlessness or unnecessary guilt
• Experiencing lack of interest or enjoyment in things that are typically of interest and enjoyment
• Having low energy or tiredness
• Oversleeping
• Having lack of motivation
• Experiencing changes in appetite
• Feeling easily irritable or agitated
• Having difficulty with concentration
• Having frequent thoughts of death or suicide

Symptoms of SAD generally will improve on their own with the changes of seasons, however these can improve more quickly with treatment. The treatment options for SAD include light therapy, antidepressant medications, talk therapy or some combination of these treatments. Again, it is recommended to consult your healthcare provider if you have concerns of SAD.

Resources:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder

https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/depression/seasonal-affective-disorder

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/seasonal-affective-disorder/index.shtml