The winter season is coming fast this year, and as the days get shorter, people find themselves feeling down due to the change in season. This is called seasonal depression or Seasonal Affective Disorder. It’s a type of depression characterized by a “recurrent seasonal pattern,” with symptoms lasting about four to five months out of the year. Seasonal depression can happen both in winter and summer, but most of the time, it happens during winter. Seasonal depression affects 5% of the U.S population, and though the percentage may seem small, it is still a mental illness that should be taken seriously.
Researchers are still determining the causes of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), and studies reveal that people with SAD, especially winter-pattern SAD, have reduced levels of the brain chemical serotonin. According to Jeannie Larson, an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota, serotonin is a chemical which helps regulate mood, and sunlight affects levels of molecules that help maintain normal serotonin levels.
“This change of daylight may affect a person’s serotonin level, thus impacting mood,” Jeannie Larson wrote. “Research suggests lower levels of serotonin are linked to depression.”
According to the Mental Health America National Organization, the symptoms of seasonal depression can be similar to those of depression. Compared to other types of depression, SAD can be difficult to recognize, and the diagnosis of seasonal depression can only be made after two “consecutive occurrences” of depression that begin and end at the same time of the year.
“Some people may just feel down, and other people may actually have a chemical response that needs medication,” counselor Nicole Raber said. “The main difference is that people with seasonal affect disorder only feel this way when winter arrives.”
With the change in seasons and the lack of sunlight, there are various symptoms of seasonal depression. According to Brian Miller, a psychology teacher at Warren Central High School, people with seasonal depression may experience lack of energy, difficulty concentrating, depressed mood and sleeping too much or too little.
“People will typically feel like they are in a bad mood, irritable, anxious and stressed out,” Raber said. “They may not be able to find pleasure in normal everyday stuff. Sometimes people can even feel worthless.”
Despite the challenges caused by the symptoms of seasonal depression, Miller claims that light therapy has been shown to improve those symptoms. Apart from light therapy, studies show that self-care is the key to managing seasonal depression.
“Stay social, eat well, exercise, find supportive people, go outside and get some vitamin D,” Raber said.
Supporting people with seasonal depression can help them significantly during these hard times. Miller advises students to speak up if they don’t feel like themselves. It’s the best way to immediately get help and get support, he said.
“Do not ignore it,” Raber said. “Whether you are just feeling down or consider your symptoms to be very serious, no one likes to feel sad. Do what you can to take care of your feelings by using coping strategies or seeing a doctor.”