Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Related Information • Depression & Stress • Women & Depression • Seniors & Depression • Seasonal Affective Disorder

When the leaves start to fall and days get shorter (and colder), we all get a little bit blue. It's a part of the natural rhythm of our bodies. When day get short certain neurotransmitters, (substances that control responses in our bodies) cause us to slow down, while the circadian rhythms (wake/sleep patterns) of our bodies urge us to sleep more.

Back in the days when food was caught or gathered, rather than hunted down from the mini-mart, it was nature's way of assuring survival. Today, it's nature's way of making some of us miserable during the winter months.

Howard Croft, M.D., a specialist in emergency medicine at Columbia St. Mary's, said SAD is particularly prevalent in northern states, such as Wisconsin, because our days get so short, and the cold weather tends to keep people inside. "The majority of people affected are women, but it's also very common in teens and young adults. It can also be job-related, if people aren't exposed to sun during the day," Dr. Croft said.

Symptoms mimic depression - difficulty concentrating, low energy, fatigue and increased appetite (particularly for carbohydrates) leading to weight gain. "The problem may be aggravated this year by our cold fall. We went from hot to forty degrees every day and it was very cloudy," Dr. Croft said.

Howard Jeffrey Croft, MD, Emergency Medicine Infinity Healthcare

SAD is distinguished from depression by its seasonal nature. It begins in the fall and ends when days start getting longer. Once diagnosed, the standard treatment for mild to moderate SAD is increased light. "If we can put people outside or provide certain types of indoor lights we can usually alleviate some of the symptoms," Dr. Croft said. And, if you can afford the time and money, "a winter vacation to a warmer and brighter climate usually alleviates the symptoms."

For those who need further treatments, anti-depressants can be prescribed. Other therapy for SAD includes exercise, particularly outdoors during the daylight hours, and counseling.

Read more for help in recognizing SAD or finding a psychiatrist or counselor.