Seasonal Affective Disorder: The Silent Season

It’s that time again. The days are getting shorter and the air is getting colder. The leaves are beginning to change colors and delicately fall. We pull out our scarves and gloves and drink warm cider. To many, the change in season is received with a warm welcome and open arms. To others, they begin to settle into the knowledge that their least favorite season is among them. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that emerges during autumn and well through the winter months. Some commonly mistake SAD with the general feeling of laziness during the winter months as symptoms tend to include increased sleep, withdrawal from people and feeling chronically fatigued. SAD is not an a symptom of disliking winter and not to be confused with major depressive disorder — but rather a specific type of depression that comes around seasonally. Though we do not know the cause of SAD, we do know there are some common factors. One reason why people are impacted by this condition has to do with the amount of sunlight emitted during the winter months. Sunlight plays an important role with our hormones and brain chemicals. The main chemical impacted by sunlight is serotonin. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that impacts anxiety, depression and happiness. As a result, sunlight has an impact on our mood levels, and when we are exposed to a decreases sunlight, our bodies and biological clocks face the consequences. Another factor to consider with SAD is genetics. Those ...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Depression General Happiness Inspiration & Hope Motivation and Inspiration Psychology autumn Depressive Episode fall Melancholy Mood Disorder Sad Sadness Seasonal Affective Disorder Seasonal Changes Winter Blues Source Type: blogs