As we bundle up in hats, coats and gloves this winter, many of us will joke that we’re ready to move closer to the equator. While we might not be serious, living a significant distance from the equator is considered one of the factors that cause 5% of the population to experience seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a form of depression that falls during several seasons of the year but is most common in winter.
SAD may lead to an array of symptoms familiar to those suffering from other forms of depression, including reduced ability to concentrate or take interest in regular activities, loss of energy and feelings of guilt, sadness or sluggishness. But winter-pattern SAD, which typically begins in late fall, can also lead to symptoms you might not expect. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) identifies carb cravings, social withdrawal and becoming overtired in the daytime and oversleeping at night as symptoms of winter-pattern SAD. These symptoms make sense when you consider the likely sources of SAD, which include seasonal drops in serotonin in the brain, melatonin changes and biological clock confusion. In other words, your body as well as your mind may be struggling to adjust to winter.
Some populations are at greater risk of suffering from SAD than others. For example, the Mayo Clinic points out that younger adults are more likely to experience SAD than older adults and that those of us living far away from the equator, such as in Indiana, are more likely to have it. Others at greater risk of SAD, according to the Mayo Clinic, include those with major depression, bipolar disorder, low vitamin D levels or a family history of SAD.
If you’re feeling gloomy this winter, you may just have seasonal blues, of course, not SAD. In that case, behavioral changes may lighten your mood. Exercise more, get out in the sun, try new activities and take it easy on yourself, especially during the holiday season. Current Eskenazi Health patients should check out the Healthy Me program, which includes free cooking classes, walking groups, personal wellness coach appointments and gym memberships at George Washington High School Gym. Those with mild cases of SAD might also find these types of methods effective enough to decrease their symptoms and make them feel like themselves again.
But for many with SAD, additional treatment is recommended. Typical treatments include medication, psychotherapy and light therapy, in which a patient spends a brief daily period exposed to a light box. While light therapy does work well for many patients, know that if you’re on Medicaid, you may have to try other options first. Those with bipolar disorder should proceed with caution and collaborate with doctors before beginning SAD treatments since some could cause complications with the disorder.
Eskenazi Health encourages you to seek medical assistance if SAD is disrupting your wellness and behavioral methods aren’t helping. You can’t be at your best or be fully there for your family if you’re suffering four to five months a year from untreated SAD. Consider calling the Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center access line at 317-880-8491 to schedule an appointment.
Like any form of depression, SAD can lead to extreme symptoms. Anyone who is experiencing hopelessness, despair or suicidal thoughts should call the 988 Lifeline (just dial those three digits) or the Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center emergency line at 317.880.8485.
Nydia Nunez-Estrada, M.D., family medicine specialist
with Eskenazi Center
North Arlington