Seasonal Changes Affect Mood?

What Is SAD?

It is suspected that seasonal changes affect a lot of people's moods. Some people call it the winter blues, seasonal anxiety or seasonal depression. This sudden change in mood, when caused by season change, is named SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) and is considered a type of depressive disorder.

SAD is a type of depression that strikes yearly, usually during the fall or winter (very rarely during the summer). 

Only one to two percent of the world are strongly affected by this disorder, with the most common demographic being women. 10 to 20 percent of the world may experience SAD to a much lesser degree than the usual one to two percent.

Someone with SAD may feel more apathetic, sad, and tenser than usual. How someone with SAD feels during this time of year is not how the afflicted person normally feels. SAD is known to affect sleep, appetite, energy levels, and mood. 

People with the disorder often describe being exhausted, feeling hopeless, and feeling irritable.

Causes

Seasonal Affective Disorder is more common in the winter time, as the lack of light and warmth leave some people with a melancholy feeling. Shorter days/less light may cause a chemical change in the brain and can be a cause of SAD. 

The human body also makes melatonin naturally when it’s dark out, which can cause people to become more tired during this time.