Seasonal Affective Disorder

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a mental health disorder characterized by mood disturbances (either periods of depression or mania) that has a seasonal pattern, often occurring in the winter months. The cause of this disorder is not fully known, but is thought to be related to light exposure during different seasons of the year. 

The symptoms of SAD are very similar to those of major depressive disorder. However, the differentiating factors between SAD and MDD is that symptoms appear and disappear around the same time each year. 

Symptoms of SAD can include: 

• Depressed mood, lasting for more than two weeks
• Impairment in work, school of social relationships 
• Changes in appetite and weight
• Sleep difficulties 
• Loss of interest in hobbies, people, or sex 
• Withdrawal from family and friends 
• Feeling useless, hopeless, guilty, or having low self-esteem
• Agitation or irritability 
• Fatigue 
• Trouble concentrating or making decisions 
• Memory disturbances 
• Increased tearfulness 
• Thoughts of suicide 
• A loss of touch with reality including hearing voices (hallucinations) or having strange ideas (delusions)