Seasonal Affective Disorder or (S.A.D) most commonly known to occur in the winter, often refers as “winter blues”, when day and sunlight exposure is significantly less. It affects approximately 6% of the U.S. population annually, but more than more than 60% of them are not being treated.
However, a lot of international students may not be aware of SAD or may correlates the symptoms to culture shock or homesickness.
Seasonal Affective Disorder is a type of depression with symptoms of both depression and affective disorder, varying between winter and summer patterns. Some of which may include:
Symptoms of depression include:
- Persistent sadness, anxiety, emptiness, or hopelessness for 2+ weeks
- Frustration, restlessness, or feelings of guilt and worthlessness
- Loss of interest in activities, trouble concentrating
- Sleep, appetite, or weight changes, with unexplained physical pain
- Thoughts of death, suicide, or suicide attempts
Winter-pattern SAD may also cause:
- Oversleeping (hypersomnia) and overeating
- Social withdrawal, feeling like “hibernating”
Effective treatments for SAD fall into four main categories, which can be used alone or together:
Light Therapy
Vitamin D
Psychotherapy
Antidepressant medication
Light therapy and vitamin D specifically target winter-pattern SAD, while psychotherapy and antidepressants help manage depression, including both winter- and summer-pattern SAD. Click the dropbox below to explore options around your campus!
SAD can also be treated and being prevent by;
Minutes of walking everyday, or just 15 minutes anytime will increase the mood.
Minutes of light therapy every morning, with light box that emits 10,000 lux
percent of people reported to have an improves symptoms after different therapies
Sometimes it is the light that can warm you up, it its a person who can talk with you
info sheet (nimh)