SAD Season is Upon Us: Seasonal Affective Disorder/Seasonal Depression

Hey, Lovelies, I’m so glad you landed here! We’re finally in the throes of fall and wrapping up Spooky Season, next up is Mariah Carey season! Like many of you, I was desperately anticipating Beyoncé dropping the visuals for Renaissance before I start playing Christmas music and movies on November 1st, but my good sis has other plans (get ya ticket money ready). If you’re like me and didn’t get to have a #HotGirl summer but are down for a #ReclusiveGirl fall, then we have to talk about seasonal depression. So, let’s get into it!

Did You Know?

1. About 5% of the U.S. population experience seasonal depression.
2. 4 out of 5 people who have seasonal depression are women.
3. Although most people experience seasonal depression in the fall or winter, some can experience it in the summer.

RELATED: What Is Seasonal Depression?

What Happens When the Sun Doesn’t Shine

Many of us have heard of the “winter blues” or may have noticed that our moods, energy, and sleep patterns drastically change in the fall and winter. This, my dear, is seasonal depression, also known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

Seasonal depression is a subtype of depression that is related to seasonal changes and begins and ends around the same time each year, typically in fall and winter.

The cause of seasonal depression is still unknown, but it is linked to less sunlight in the fall and winter months, which regulates serotonin levels- a neurotransmitter that affects mood.

If you have a vitamin D deficiency, it can exacerbate this issue as vitamin D encourages serotonin production and release. So, see Love, you’re not crazy or just sad for no reason.

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When the days are shorter and darker, the body produces more melatonin resulting in disrupted sleep/wake rhythms. So basically, bears aren’t the only creatures who hibernate in the winter, lol.

Some of us are more at risk for SAD than others, especially if you have another mood disorder, have a family history of SAD or other major depressive disorders, live in cloudy regions, or live in areas far north or south of the equator.

Most Common Symptoms

*A person with seasonal depression may not experience all of these symptoms

1. Oversleeping
2. Overeating, specifically carbs and sweets
3. Weight gain
4. Social withdrawal, loss of interest in pleasurable activities
5. Lethargy
6. Trouble concentrating
7. Mood changes
8. Depression
9. Anxiety

Treatment

1. Exposure to sunlight. When the sun is out, GO OUTSIDE.
2. Light therapy
3. Talk therapy
4. Antidepressant medication
5. Vitamin D

RELATED: Feeling SAD? 5 Ways to Combat Seasonal Depression

Tidbit

A clean, whole-food diet and exercise are always helpful in improving your mood and overall health. This is also the best time to increase your intake of foods that support your immune system (it’s flu season and COVID is still in the air).

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Closing

Now that we got all that information, we are all better prepared for the fall and winter. As a person with seasonal depression living in the Midwest (baby I’m from the south, please come get me), I know how hard these months can be. But remember, you are not alone, you are not crazy, and you are loved even when you don’t love yourself!

I know it’s going to get colder and darker outside, and we have a deep love affair with the bed/couch, but we’re not gonna isolate and succumb to sadness. We’re gonna get through this together, we have each other, our self-preservation/care routines, our journal, and our community. Remember you know your body better than anyone, so protect it, and always advocate for yourself. Please be sure to consult with a licensed medical professional and licensed mental health professional for more information, a diagnosis, or treatment.

Be on the lookout for more articles from “SPEAK UP!” interns. If you are or know of any currently enrolled HBCU women/students interested in advocating for health and wellness amongst your HBCU peers please visit Save a Girl, Save a World (SAGSAW) for more information.

Aravia Patterson, MPH, is a 26-year-old intern with SAGSAW/SPEAK Up! She is currently a Ph.D. Student at the University of Louisville studying Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences.