By Sarah Y
It’s a common phenomenon for many people, like you and me, to feel a bit more down during the winter months. Maybe it’s the early sunsets brought on by daylight saving time, the colder temperatures, or the gloomy, rainy weather that seems to stretch for days. Or perhaps there’s no clear reason, instead something just feels different. This isn’t unusual– in fact, 2 in 5 Americans report feeling moodier during the winter according to the American Psychiatric Association [3].
However, there’s a significant line between feeling moody occasionally and experiencing Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a serious condition that affects 5% of Americans annually and something which I would like to bring awareness and educate others on today [2].
SAD involves persistent depressive symptoms that can usually lasts for 4 to 5 months out of a year [1]. According to Cleveland Clinic’s Health Library [4], some common symptoms of SAD can include but are not limited to:
Persistent sadness or anxiety
Irritability
Difficulty concentrating
Low energy levels
Thoughts of self-harm or suicide
Oversleeping
Withdrawal from social activities
To read about more symptoms, please visit Cleveland Clinic’s website [4].
Having personally experienced feeling down during the winter as well as supporting a close family member with SAD, I’ve come to see distinct differences between general winter blues and this serious disorder. My family member, who has graciously allowed me to share her story, struggled profoundly. During winter, simply getting out of bed felt insurmountable for her due to the overwhelming negative emotions tied to the extra darkness due to daylight saving. On especially gloomy days, her anxiety would escalate to the point where she frequently needed to leave school to visit her therapist as it was extremely serious and something that should not be dealt with alone.
I vividly remember supporting her in December, having long talks about how I could help. It wasn’t her fault; SAD is a form of depression that often requires treatment such as antidepressant medication or light therapy. It’s far more complex than the “holiday blues.”
Before her diagnosis, I mistakenly believed my own winter sadness was similar to her experiences and thought she was overreacting. However, learning her story opened my eyes to the significant differences and challenges she faces every winter. When I talked to my other family members they had the same misunderstanding leading me to believe that this misunderstanding could be common, which is why it’s essential for us to educate ourselves about SAD and its impact.
You can also learn more about SAD in the references linked below:
[1] “Seasonal Affective Disorder.” National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/seasonal-affective-disorder#:~:text=SAD%20is%20a%20type%20of,pattern%20versus%20summer%2Dpattern%20SAD
[2] “Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).” American Psychiatric Association (APA), www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/seasonal-affective-disorder#:~:text=SAD%20is%20more%20than%20just,geographical%20latitude%2C%20age%20and%20sex
[3] “Two in Five Americans Say Their Mood Worsens in Winter; 29% Say “Falling Back” Hurts Their Mental Health.” American Psychiatric Association (APA), www.psychiatry.org/news-room/news-releases/apa-poll-mood-changes-in-winter
[4] “Seasonal Depression (Seasonal Affective Disorder).” Cleveland Clinic, 10 May 2024, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9293-seasonal-depression
