What causes seasonal depression? How common is the disorder? What are some ways to prevent or treat the symptoms?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When the days get darker and colder, it\u2019s hard not to feel a little down. But sometimes the \u201cwinter blues\u201d are something more\u2014seasonal depression\u2014a surprisingly common form of depression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Keep reading to learn what causes seasonal depression, who it affects, and what you can do to help it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Have you ever felt depressed once the dark days of winter set in, or felt less interested in your work once you turned your clocks back for the season? You might be experiencing seasonal depression, also called seasonal affective disorder (SAD). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Like other forms of \u201cmajor\u201d or \u201cclinical\u201d depression, seasonal depression can cause feelings of sadness and anxiety, reduced energy, a lack of interest in the activities you usually enjoy, changes to your sleep patterns and eating habits, difficulty concentrating, and thoughts of death or suicide. The symptoms can be severe and can interfere with your work, relationships, and health. And because they can last for up to 40% of the year<\/a> for some people, the effects of seasonal depression are a lot longer-lasting than you\u2019d expect<\/strong> for something that people shrug off as the \u201cwinter blues.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Researchers aren\u2019t sure what causes seasonal depression. But they have a few theories: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Many people have noticed that the arrival of shorter, darker days<\/a> seems to kickstart their symptoms. And researchers think that a lack of sunlight might interfere with the body\u2019s release of melatonin. Winter\u2019s longer hours of darkness can disrupt your body\u2019s rhythms. That makes it harder to get up in the morning, harder to fall asleep at night, and harder to cope with depressive symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another theory attributes seasonal depression to the human equivalent of an instinct for hibernation<\/a>. Paul Desan, a psychiatrist at Yale\u2019s Winter Depression Research Clinic<\/a>, explains that an increased appetite and a need for more sleep are two of the most commonly reported symptoms<\/a> of seasonal depression. As he points out, these symptoms make it sound like our bodies are trying to hibernate for the winter<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Similarly, University of Toronto psychiatrist Robert Levitan explains seasonal depression as a combination of an evolutionarily adaptive<\/em> (or useful) instinct to conserve energy in the winter<\/a> combined with a maladaptive<\/em> urge to withdraw from social activity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Additionally, some experts think that when people anticipate feeling sad or down during the winter months, that expectation also has an effect<\/a> on how they actually feel when the coldest and darkest days of the year arrive. These negative associations are so strong that some researchers question<\/a> whether the seasons\u2019 change is really to blame for seasonal depression at all. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some researchers estimate that 5% of adults<\/a> in the US experience seasonal depression, while others put the number closer to 10%<\/a>. To be diagnosed with seasonal depression, a person has to have seasonal symptoms that occur for at least two years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s most common for seasonal depression to set in in the late fall. Experts say that the disorder occurs more often in women than in men<\/a> and in people who live in northern regions of the United States rather than southern regions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Noticing a seasonal pattern in your mood or thinking can help you identify whether you might be experiencing seasonal depression. To look for these patterns, some experts recommend keeping a journal<\/a>. They explain that if you\u2019ve been feeling down for more than two weeks, or you\u2019re finding that your symptoms have been interfering with your daily life, then it\u2019s a good time to see a mental health professional. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Experts have identified several evidence-based treatments<\/a> that can help you feel better, even if the end of winter is still a long way off. These include:<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat Causes Seasonal Depression? <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Fewer Hours of Sunlight Might Be to Blame …<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Maybe Our Bodies Want to Hibernate<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Expectations Are Also Powerful<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
How Common Is Seasonal Depression? <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How Can You Prevent or Treat Seasonal Depression? <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n