Shorter days and dreary weather getting you down? You’re not alone…
Seasonal affective disorder or SAD is described as depressive episodes occurring at the same time each year, predominantly in the winter or autumn seasons. A person might experience “the blues” or a more depressed mood as the colder winter season, with shorter days and gray skies. Improvement in mood returns with the warmer seasons and longer days. It can occur at other times of the year; however, it is much less common outside the autumn and winter seasons.
SAD is a common type of depression and affects about 11% of people. It’s classified as a serious mental health issue since it can significantly affect a person’s behaviors, daily functioning, and relationships with others. It’s a complex disorder likely influenced by several factors.
People suffering from SAD typically have the following symptoms:
- A decrease in pleasure or interest in activities
- Social withdrawal
- Reduced energy
- A sense of worthlessness or hopelessness
- Difficulty concentrating
- Repeated thoughts of death or dying
- Indecisiveness
- Feelings of guilt
Vitamin D is known to play a role in SAD since the condition mainly occurs when people have less exposure to the sun, often resulting in a vitamin D deficiency. Serotonin, a hormone that plays an important role in regulating your mood and sleeping patterns, is dependent on vitamin D. It’s not surprising, therefore, that many research studies have found a strong association between vitamin D and seasonal affective disorder.