Tips for Seasonal Affective Disorder

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that follows a seasonal cycle. SAD is also known as “winter depression” because the symptoms are often more severe during the darker winter months.

What causes it?

The exact cause of SAD is not fully understood, but it’s often linked to reduced exposure to sunlight during the shorter autumn and winter days.

The main theory is that a lack of sunlight might stop a part of the brain called the hypothalamus working properly, which may affect the:

production of melatonin
production of serotonin
the body’s internal clock (circadian rhythm)

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of SAD can include:

a persistent low mood
a loss of pleasure or interest in normal everyday activities
irritability
feelings of despair, guilt and worthlessness
feeling lethargic (lacking in energy) and sleepy during the day
sleeping for longer than normal and finding it hard to get up in the morning
craving carbohydrates and gaining weight
difficulty concentrating
decreased sex drive

For some people, these symptoms can be severe and have a significant impact on their day-to-day activities.

Should I see a GP?

You should consider seeing your GP if you think you might have SAD and you’re struggling to cope.
Your GP can carry out an assessment to check your mental health. They may ask you about your mood, lifestyle, eating habits and sleeping patterns, plus any seasonal changes in your thoughts and behaviour.

Can it be treated?

A range of treatments are available for SAD. Your GP will recommend the most suitable treatment programme which could be:

lifestyle measures
talking therapies
light therapy
antidepressant medicine