Seasonal depression, is it real? More and more studies have shown that it is real. What makes seasonal depression or seasonal affective disorder (SAD) different from that of the typical depression? Pretty much the tell-tale signs of SAD are that in certain seasons primarily winter, an individual who struggles with depression will feel more depressed than usual during this season.
Keep in mind that starting in autumn the time falls back, which means nightfall appears sooner than in summer and springtime. It has been said and noted that sunshine affects our moods significantly. Like other organisms and plants, the sun provides human beings with energy and vitamin D just to name a few. The sunshine for most of us represents a beautiful day waiting for us to “conquer the world.” A reduction in light exposure during darker months of the year is thought to alter the normal circadian rhythm of melatonin release, resulting in an increased circulating melatonin concentration (Holloway & Evans, 2014).
Seasonal depression comes along with symptoms of:
- Loss of energy
- Change in appetite with the consumption of more carbohydrates for some
- Tendency to oversleep
- Difficulty concentrating
- Irritability
Seasonal affective disorder is becoming more widely recognized as a prevalent mood disorder in the adult population. However, few studies have investigated the link between sunlight exposure and mood especially in the elderly (Holloway & Evans, 2014). Do you often feel this way? Have you always felt this way for years and never understood why? Maybe it is time to see your primary care physician for a referral to a mental health professional to get your diagnosis. There are ways in working around and helping you cope with SAD.
References
Holloway, L. drlholloway@doctors. org. u., & Evans, S. (2014). Seasonality of Depression Referrals in Older People. Community Mental Health Journal (Vol. 50, pp. 336–338). https://doi-org.libproxy.edmc.edu/10.1007/s10597-013-9609-3
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