The Times of the Seasons

April C
May 3, 2025
2 min read

What is it?

Depression may not always happen all year round. Many factors affect people, and one includes seasons. Due to seasonal changes, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) would begin and end during the same times every year.

What exactly are the symptoms, and why does this happen?

Overview

Symptoms

It’s more common for SAD to occur during late fall or early winter and then go away during spring and summer. However, there are times when the opposite happens, but in both cases, symptoms start mild and can become more intense as the season comes.

SAD Symptoms Include:

Feeling sad or down nearly all the time
Losing interest in hobbies
Having low energy
Struggling with sleeping too much
Experiencing cravings, overeating and weight gain
Having difficulty concentrating
Feeling hopeless, worthless or guilty
Having suicidal thoughts

Fall and Winter SAD Symptoms:

Sleeping too much
Craving for foods high in carbs
Weight gain
Low energy

Spring and Summer SAD Symptoms:

Struggling to sleep
Poor appetite
Weight loss
Agitation or anxiety
Increased irritability

Causes

Circadian Rhythm

The reduced sunlight levels in fall and winter may cause SAD during the winter because it disrupts the body’s internal clock. Thus leading to depression.

Serotonin Levels

Serotonin is a brain chemical that affects one’s mood, and a lack of sunlight may lower these levels, leading to depression.

Melatonin Levels

Melatonin is a hormone that affects a person’s sleep patterns, and seasons can disrupt that balance.

Risks

The risks included:

Family History

It is more likely for people to develop SAD or a similar disorder if they have blood relatives with SAD.

Mental Illness

Those with depression or bipolar disorder may worsen or make it more likely to develop some form of SAD.

Area

Those who live far away from the equator are more likely to develop SAD due to the lower levels of sunlight during the winter.

Vitamin D Levels

Vitamin D helps enhance serotonin levels, and not getting enough vitamin D, especially during the winter, can increase symptoms.

Complications

It’s a disorder that needs to be taken seriously and can get serious if not taken care of. Complications include but aren’t limited to:

Social withdrawal
Issues with work balance
Substance abuse
Other mental disorders
Suicidal ideation

What to do?

SAD is not an issue to fix but a hill to climb. Instead of viewing yourself as broken, learn to have coping strategies and find ways to deal with it. It’s important to seek help from doctors and professionals and even get comfort from your support buddies. If you’re looking for ways to prevent, there isn’t much you can do, but you can stop the symptoms from worsening over time.