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Apr 21, 2022
✨POV✨: You have struggled with depression for a while now. But what confuses you is why it gets more severe in a particular season. I mean, having it year around is one thing, having it get worse for a few months every year is another entirely different thing to deal with.
Seasonal Affective Disorder or Seasonal Depression can be quite that pain in the hindside. I mean, it's not pretty to not feel okay and struggle with your mental health because of the weather.
And it's quite easy to dismiss, saying 'it's the same weather for everyone, why am I so affected by it?'. But if only if it were that simple and if only someone woke up one morning and decided that it was legit.
Seasonal Depression is as legit as any other physical or mental illness. And there's a whole history to show that.
Seasonal Affective Disorder: The History 📜
Norman Rosenthal, a renowned psychiatrist, gave name to this experience of seasonal depression in 1984.
When he first moved from Johannesburg in South Africa to New England in the United States, he noticed that the extreme winter months made him feel lethargic, groggy, fatigued, and unmotivated.
While in the early summer months (when the weather in New York was similar to Johannesburg) he was energized and feeling his best.
He then approached the National Institute for Mental Health (NIMH) to lead research into this phenomenon. Studies found a relation between daylight hours, exposure to the sun, and body chemistry. And ever since, new research has been shedding more light on the causes and treatments.
Connection between SAD and Depression 🔗
Essentially, seasonal affective disorder is experiencing depression only for a few months every year, in a particular season.
The symptoms of depression and SAD are the same. The only difference lies in which symptoms of depression are experienced in the different seasons.
⛄ Winter Depression Symptoms
- Oversleeping
- Craving starchy and sweet foods
- Weight gain
- Extreme lethargy or fatigue
⛱️ Summer Depression Symptoms
- Trouble sleeping
- Decreased appetite
- Weight loss
- Episodes of aggressive or violent behavior
Treatments 🩹
There are many ways to treat SAD. Here are a few options that can help relieve symptoms:
🕯️ Bright Light Therapy
This is one of the most common go-to treatments for SAD. It is a preventive treatment wherein a bright lightbox substitutes for natural light (from the sun) in order to stimulate healthy sleep patterns, mood changes, and serotonin activity. Medical supervision is important throughout this process of diagnosis, psychotherapy, prescription of antidepressant medications (if any), and treatment.
💟 Self-Care and Self-Love
When we take care of our physical health and build healthy coping mechanisms, we are winning half the battle just because we are better prepared for any seasonal gust. Eating balanced diets, hydrating, working out, and sleeping enough push our bodies to release D.O.S.E (Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin, and Endorphins - the army of feel-good hormones).
A simple and easy way of building healthy coping mechanisms is doing mini-therapies. When you feel an intense emotion or are overwhelmed and need to feel better, what better way to do that than therapy? The kind you can access the second you need it. When you’re thinking, ‘I feel anxious before bed’, don’t let the anxiety take hold of your sleep.
To know about more ways in which you can practice self-love, click here.
Last Word on Mental Health 🤍
Depression may be a bad bish, but we are no less. Isn’t this how science tackles problems? By understanding the history, causes, and effects.
Note on Mental Disorders
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a seasonal form of Major Depressive Disorder (severe clinical depression or major depression). If the SAD symptoms worsen, it is important to contact a mental health professional to help us find a treatment for the depressive episodes.
Seasonal Affective Disorders are often accompanied by other mental health conditions such as bipolar disorder, panic disorder or anxiety disorder. If you have such symptoms of depression or thoughts of self-harm, please use the national institute helpline or contact a mental health professional to seek treatment options.
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