SAD or sad?

For some people, after the festivities come the “winter blahs.” They may be suffering from cabin fever as winter weather keeps them housebound. The sadness, however, may really be clinical depression. If the depression is limited to the winter months, it may be SAD, or Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Although the cause of SAD is not known, scientists speculate that a variety of different brain chemicals and hormones are affected by the cyclical pattern of the seasons. In addition to cold temperatures and poor weather conditions, the amount of available sunlight decreases in winter months. The daily use of full-spectrum light seems to bring relief. It is estimated that 6% of Americans suffer from SAD, while an additional 10-20% experience mild symptoms. For additional medical information on SAD, visit www.MayoClinic.com and search for “Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).”

The common symptoms of SAD may include depression, fatigue, lethargy, weight gain, and craving carbohydrates. Many of these symptoms would be common with clinical depression as well. There are, however, two major differences between depression and SAD. First, there is no identifiable situational cause for the depression with SAD. Second, the symptoms come on each winter and clear up each spring.

SAD is more common in women than men. Nearly every woman will also be impacted by depression at some point in her life. In their book, Unveiling Depression in Women, Dr. Arch Hart and his daughter, Dr. Catherine Hart Weber, discuss causes and symptoms of depression as well as provide some remedies to enable women to deal with it. They also explain when specialized treatment might be appropriate.

For any individual in any season, when depression becomes significant enough to interfere with relationships and the ability to carry out daily activities, it is time to seek professional help from a therapist and/or your physician.