Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

[Jazzy]

Do dark, chilly days make your mood cloud over this time each year? You're not alone: Roughly 10 to 20 percent of Americans report feeling tired or sad when there are fewer hours of daylight in the winter months.

While many people can still function even if they're feeling a bit melancholy, for some, winter brings a clinical form of depression called seasonal affective disorder, also known as SAD. According to Kelly Rohan, Ph.D, professor and director of clinical training at University of Vermont, at least 2 percent of the population suffers from the psychiatric condition, but that percentage tends to increase in regions with shorter hours of sunlight. Researchers estimate that up to 10 percent of Alaskans experience SAD symptoms such as fatigue, overeating, loss of interest in activities and difficulty concentrating.

What causes this wintertime down-in-the-dumps attitude? Research published in the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology this October reveals that it's a biochemical imbalance that's at play. Come winter, people with SAD experience a significant dip in serotonin, the neurotransmitter responsible for mood, appetite, sleep, memory and libido.

"When someone notices significant distress or problems functioning in everyday activities, like performing at work and maintaining healthy relationships, that's the time to consult a professional for an evaluation," says Rohan.

But even if you don't suffer from full-blown seasonal depression, you may feel less social and more pessimistic come winter. "As the season changes, our circadian rhythms get impacted because the sunlight pattern has changed," says Ani Kalayjian, Ph.D, professor of clinical psychology at Columbia University. "If you know that you get less joyous in winter months, you have to start a preventative approach." After all, you prepare your home, car, garden and other things for the seasonal change, so why not your body? Kalayjian suggests evaluating the severity of your symptoms (energy level, appetite, desire to be social) and then exploring forms of treatment.

Fortunately, there are several easy ways to boost your mood if you're experiencing an energy dip this winter. Here are some of the best expert-backed strategies.

Click here for 9 Ways To Cope With Seasonal Affective Disorder

Do you suffer with SAD? If so,How do you cope with it?

 

[Raven]

I am the complete opposite, Winter makes me feel alive, I love dark, grey, misty days, days where it barely gets light - people have been complaining about this at work all week. I'm the only one that likes it.

Summer - Different story, I get angry quickly and usually get depressed.

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

I am the complete opposite, Winter makes me feel alive, I love dark, grey, misty days, days where it barely gets light - people have been complaining about this at work all week.  I'm the only one that likes it.

Same here. I like dark / stormy days too.