Does the change in seasons affect your mood or cause you to slip into a depression? You may have seasonal affective disorder. According to the Mayo Clinic, seasonal affective disorder “is a type of depression that occurs at the same time every year. It you’re like most people with seasonal affective disorder, your symptoms start in the fall and may continue into the winter months, sapping your energy and making you feel moody. Less often, seasonal affective disorder causes depression in the spring or early summer.”

Symptoms of seasonal affective disorder leave and return every year. Most commonly, seasonal affective disorder symptoms show up during the late fall or early winter and last until the sunny days of spring and summer. However, some individuals who suffer from seasonal affective disorder experience the opposite schedule of symptoms, which is called reverse seasonal affective disorder. Whenever you start displaying symptoms of seasonal affective disorder, they often start out mild and become more severe as the season progresses.

• Depression
• Hopelessness
• Anxiety
• Lack of energy and fatigue
• Social withdrawal
• Oversleeping
• Increased appetite - craving food high in carbohydrates
• Difficulty focusing

Seasonal affective disorder, like any other health issue, should not be ignored. If left untreated, it can escalate into a major depressive syndrome. Treatment consists of antidepressant medications and/or light therapy. Additionally, your doctor may recommend spending more time outside, especially in the morning.

If you think you are experiencing symptoms of seasonal affective disorder or any other type of depression, contact Solace Counseling.