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Seasonal depression. What is it, and how does it work?
This disorder, also called seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that hits during winter months, and leaves during the rest of the year.
What is SAD?
It is a type of depression, linked to decreasing sunlight and shorter days.
It gradually increases during the 'ber' months and slowly improve during spring.
CIRCADIAN RHYTHM/CYCLE- natural oscillation (a regular, repeating movement back and forth around a center point or between different states) that repeats roughly every 24 hours.
The circadian rhythm has patterns that include core body temperature, brain wave activity, hormone production (includes our emotions), cell regenaration and others
the decreasing sunlight in winter affects our circadian rhythm, which regulate's our sense of time. we can also call this our internal biological clock, and disruption to it, can change our mood, leading to SAD.
SAD is more common in people who live farther north of the equator. It is very uncommon for people to experience SAD during summer, but cases have happened.
What are the symptoms?
They are similar to those of depression, and severity varies based on person.
The symptoms tend to include:
•anxious feelings that are out of proportion
•feelings of guilt and worthlessness
•stress and irritability
•indecisivness
•reduced focus
•consistent low mood
•reduced libido
•restless activity
•crying
•fatigue
Risk factors:
Women are more likely to experience it then men, but this may be due to the fact that there is more depression overall with women.
Living farther from the equator can increase risk due to shorter days.
Having family that have history with other types of depression can increase likelihood.
People with a history of depression or bipolar disorder.
Causes of SAD?
Reduced SEROTONIN production during winter. levels of this protein usually drop to protect from environmental stress.
disrupted MELATONIN levels (sleeping hormone)
reduced VITAMIN D production (vitamin produced from exposure to sunlight)
TREATMENT:
a person may alleviate it by enjoying the most of the sunlight when it is still there, which means going for walks etc.
Though treatment usually involves medication and therapy.
RECOURSES:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/10306#treatment
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circadian_rhythm
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