Seasonal affective disorder is like “a vacation guest that has overstayed its welcome,” Huntsville resident Katie Hall said with a laugh.
“I always joke that my normal depression will lead to seasonal depression and I'll be living with it for a few months,” Hall said.
According to Dr. Megan Hayes, an associate professor at the university, seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression with symptoms similar to major depressive disorder, but only during certain times of the year, usually in the fall and winter. It is said that the symptoms only occur during the course of the disease. Hersink School of Medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Hayes pointed out the difference between SAD and the “winter blues,” where mood is exacerbated by stressors such as the holiday season or reduced daylight hours. National Institutes of Health (NIH) explains SAD “When the seasons change, our moods and behaviors change dramatically.”
According to the NIH, SAD can occur during other seasonal changes, but it occurs more frequently during the winter months.
Hayes said SAD's more troubling symptoms include intense feelings of hopelessness, sleep disturbances, and suicidal thoughts.
Hall suffers from depression year-round, but says that during the winter months, her symptoms include intense loneliness and extreme fatigue.
“No matter what I do, no matter how much sleep I get, no matter how much caffeine I consume, I'm still extremely tired throughout the day,” Hall says. She also experiences muscle pain and tension.
Huntsville resident Melody Young said she only experiences depression during the winter, and during the warmer months of the year, she doesn't “hate life.”
“I love my life. I love my hobbies. I love my family. I love my friends. Why do I feel sad sometimes?” Young said a few years ago. I wondered for over 10 years until I consulted a doctor who diagnosed her with SAD.
Other symptoms include memory and concentration problems and changes in appetite and weight, according to the NIH. Researchers are still figuring out what causes SAD. There is a link between decreased levels of serotonin, a brain chemical that regulates mood, and vitamin D deficiency, both of which are caused by decreased exposure to sunlight.
“A lot of research has focused on light because it's actually the main regulator of our body's internal clock or circadian rhythm,” Hayes said.
Treatment for SAD includes antidepressants and phototherapy. Hayes said phototherapy or light therapy can be as simple as spending more time outdoors or using a light box with at least 10,000 lux. Hall and Young went outside and used light boxes throughout their home and workplace and noticed an improvement in their mood.
Hall said she increases her vitamin D through supplements, incorporates physical activity into her daily routine and sees a therapist.
“I'm a big proponent of treatment,” Hall said. “I wish everyone in the world had a therapist, because you can only benefit from a therapist.”
Young said tracking her symptoms throughout the year can be helpful as a long-term project, along with seeing a doctor and getting appropriate treatment.
“It's important to know that you just need to trust your intuition and listen to the little cues that your body and mind may be giving you,” Young said.
Hayes said socialization and staying connected to friends and family can help with SAD.
“We know that getting emotional support and being around others, even if you don't feel like it, can help combat feelings of loneliness,” Hayes says.
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If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts or facing a suicide crisis, dial 988 or text HOME to 741741 to contact Suicide & Crisis. Talk or text someone at Lifeline. For more information, please visit: 988lifeline.org and CrisisTextLine.org.
