Is It the Winter Blues or Something More? Understanding Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

While some people may embrace the changes that come with varying seasons, others may dread the colder and darker days of winter and the return of their seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

Most people don’t revel in the gloomy skies and chilly winds of winter, but for those living with SAD, winter makes a significant impact on their mood and daily functioning. If you’ve noticed that your mood is severely affected by the seasons, SAD could be to blame.

SAD is often a misunderstood form of depression, so our team at RapidRecovery TMS in Wilmington, North Carolina, wants to explore what you need to know about this wintertime ailment in this month’s blog.

What is SAD?

SAD is a clinically diagnosed form of depression that usually develops and then resolves at the same time each year. 

This particular disorder differs from the “winter blues,” which tends to be milder and resolves relatively quickly. In addition, the winter blues often have a known trigger, such as stressful circumstances or the loss of a loved one around the holidays. 

In contrast, SAD is severe and impacts your ability to perform everyday tasks. You may develop intense feelings of guilt and worthlessness, driving you to withdraw from your usual hobbies and social activities. 

Currently, experts haven’t discovered a single cause for SAD. However, it’s thought that circadian rhythm changes and drops in serotonin levels due to decreased sunlight exposure contribute to SAD development. 

How is SAD treated?

While there isn’t a cure for SAD, there are various management strategies you can implement to boost your mental health. Although your symptoms likely won’t resolve completely, these treatments can certainly help. 

Let’s take a look at a few of these options:

Light therapy

Lack of sunlight is a major trigger for SAD, which is why light therapy is a helpful tool for SAD symptom relief. During light therapy, you sit in front of a light therapy box that emits bright light for about 20 minutes. 

In addition, whenever the sun decides to come out, spend as much time as you can outside. You can also try setting up your home or office to support natural sunlight and increased sun exposure. 

Professional mental health treatment

During the cold winter months, our team can provide a variety of supplemental treatments to address mental health concerns. 

Undergoing talk therapy (psychotherapy) can help you identify and then correct negative thought patterns about yourself and your environment. Taking antidepressants can help boost lowered serotonin levels due to a lack of sunlight. 

Our team may also take a look at your daily health habits to address any gaps that could be contributing to poor mental health, including your diet, exercise levels, and sleep patterns. 

We also offer transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy to change neurotransmitter activity in your brain that’s contributing to mood changes. 

Take back control from SAD

If seasonal depression is taking a toll on your health and wellness, don’t wait to seek effective help from our team. 

Schedule an appointment for SAD diagnosis and treatment by calling our office or using our online booking feature today.