Understanding And Managing Seasonal Affective Disorder
As the clocks in the UK go back this weekend, we're taking a look at Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and why the reduced light matters to our mental health. Seasonal Affective Disorder Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that people experience in relation to a specific season and time of the year. SAD is not a standalone condition: the DSM-5, the manual of mental disorders, classifies it as a specifier for major depressive disorder (MDD). In fact, the symptoms of SAD are similar to those of Major Depressive Disorder, such as feelings of sadness, hopelessness, guilt, worthlessness, loss of interest, changes in appetite and weight. SAD is most commonly experienced during the winter months, as shorter days and a reduced amount of sunlight hours are thought to be associated with changes in brain chemicals, leading to the experience of depressive symptoms. For example, the production of vitamin D, which is crucial for mental wellbeing, requires exposure to UV l...