Beat the Blues: Seasonal Affective Disorder

There is such a big spike of joy during the holidays with many things to look forward to. After the holiday season, things start to wind down and reality sets back in. After the holiday season many people go through what is more commonly known as the “winter blues”. What some people may not know is that the winter blues are diagnosed as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). The Mayo Clinic defines SAD as, “a mood disorder characterized by depression that occurs at the same time every year. 

Seasonal affective disorder occurs in climates where there is less sunlight at certain times of the year. Symptoms include fatigue, depression, hopelessness, and social withdrawal. It is more common than people think with more than 3 million US cases per year”.  Some treatments for SAD include: light therapy, psychotherapy, antidepressant medications and vitamin D. Light therapy has been used since the 1980’s to help people boost their moods. Most people sit in front of a light box for 30-45 mins a day. Psychotherapy focuses on replacing the negative thoughts about the winter with positive ones. 

Both light therapy and psychotherapy were equally effective in improving SAD symptoms. For some individuals antidepressant medications may need to be paired with other treatments to enhance the individual's mood. Many people with SAD often have vitamin D deficiency, nutritional supplements of vitamin D may help improve their symptoms. It is best to discuss symptoms with your doctor so he/she can guide you to best fit your needs.