SAD Symptoms
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a mood disorder that occurs with changes in the seasons. Although the symptoms of SAD vary depending on the person and the type of disorder, common symptoms include:
- Depressed mood
- Diminished ability to think or concentrate
- Diminished interest or pleasure in most activities
- Fatigue or loss of energy
- Feelings of worthlessness
- Insomnia or trouble staying awake during the day
- Recurrent thoughts of death or committing suicide
- Weight loss (when not dieting) or weight gain; changes in appetite.
Winter SAD Symptoms
Most SAD cases occur in the winter, with symptoms starting in the fall and going away by the summer. Common SAD depression symptoms in the winter include:
- Avoidance of social situations and loss of interest in usual activities
- Changes in appetite, especially cravings for sweet or starchy foods
- Fatigue, less energy and a tendency to oversleep
- Increased sensitivity to social rejection
- Irritability and anxiety
- Trouble concentrating
- Weight gain.
Summer SAD Symptoms
Some people experience summer-onset SAD, with symptoms starting in late spring or early summer and disappearing by winter. Symptoms of SAD in the summer are often opposite of winter SAD symptoms and include:
- Agitation
- Anxiety
- Increased sex drive
- Insomnia
- Irritability
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss.
Reverse Seasonal Affective Disorder
Some people suffer from a form of SAD called reverse seasonal affective disorder. Reverse SAD occurs in the spring and summer and includes manic symptoms such as:
- Agitation
- Elevated mood
- Excessive, out of proportion enthusiasm
- Hyperactivity
- Increased social activities
- Rapid thoughts and speech.
SAD Symptoms Treatment
SAD symptoms treatment can help to alleviate some of the symptoms of SAD. Treatment options include:
- Antidepressant medications
- Exercise and getting outdoors as much as possible
- Light therapy, also called phototherapy, to mimic outdoor light
- Mind-body therapies, such as guided imagery, massage therapy, meditation and yoga
- Nutritional and dietary supplements including melatonin, omega-3 fatty acids, SAMe, and St. John’s Wort. (SAMe and St. John’s Wort can have drug interactions with other medications, especially antidepressants.)
Psychotherapy can also help to identify and change negative thoughts and behaviors that can increase the symptoms of SAD. Therapy can teach healthy ways to cope with seasonal affective disorder and manage stress.
If you believe you are experiencing the symptoms of SAD or any other mental health condition, consult a professional health care provider.
Resources
American Psychiatric Association Staff. (n.d.). Seasonal affective disorder. Retrieved May 5, 2010, from the American Psychiatric Association website: healthyminds.org/Main-Topic/Seasonal-Affective-Disorder.aspx.
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2009). Seasonal affective disorder. Retrieved May 5, 2010, from the Mayo Clinic website: www.mayoclinic.com/health/seasonal-affective-disorder/DS00195/METHOD=print.
Saeed, S. A., et al. (1998). Seasonal affective disorders. Retrieved May 7, 2010, from the American Family Physician website: www.aafp.org/afp/980315ap/saeed.html.