{"id":23015,"date":"2022-11-16T07:00:11","date_gmt":"2022-11-16T07:00:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/updates-www.mccdn.io\/vitals\/?p=23015"},"modified":"2025-10-13T22:42:07","modified_gmt":"2025-10-13T22:42:07","slug":"what-is-seasonal-affective-disorder-sad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/updates-www.mccdn.io\/vitals\/what-is-seasonal-affective-disorder-sad\/","title":{"rendered":"Is it seasonal affective disorder (SAD)? How to know and what you can do about it","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"

Pacific Northwest winters spell shorter days, dreary skies and plunging temperatures, yet for many the changes that accompany \u201cThe Big Dark\u201d go beyond the weather.<\/p>\n

Millions of Americans, or approximately 5 percent of the U.S. population, live with seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of clinical depression related to the change of seasons.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnfortunately, some people with SAD can have symptoms up to five months of the year,\u201d says Jeff Eisen, MD, MBA, chief medical officer and president of the MultiCare Behavioral Health Network<\/a>. \u201cThis condition can affect all aspects of someone\u2019s life, including their ability to work productively or socialize with their loved ones.\u201d<\/p>\n

If you find yourself experiencing the winter doldrums from year to year, it could be SAD. Whether you just feel a little down or your symptoms are more serious, there are treatments available and lifestyle changes you can make to stabilize your mood and support your mental health year-round.<\/p>\n

What causes SAD<\/h2>\n

For most people, SAD starts in the fall and peaks in winter, though there is also a rare form that affects people from spring to summer. The exact causes of SAD aren\u2019t known, but there are three factors that likely contribute to the development of this condition.<\/p>\n

One is related to circadian rhythm \u2014 our bodies\u2019 internal clock, which helps direct everything from our body temperature to our mood to our sleep patterns.<\/p>\n

\u201cSeasonal shifts bring with them changes in the amount of sunlight we get, and those changes can disrupt our circadian rhythm, among other processes in the body, perhaps triggering symptoms of SAD,\u201d Dr. Eisen says.<\/p>\n

Changes in sunlight quantity can also influence the production of two very important hormones: serotonin and melatonin, which also regulate sleep and mood.<\/p>\n

While anyone can experience SAD, even children, it often affects those living in northern areas \u2014 such as New England, Alaska and the Pacific Northwest, where there is a significant amount of darkness during the winter months. There are also other risk factors that can make some people more prone to developing SAD than others, such as a family history of depression or a current diagnosis of bipolar disorder.<\/p>\n

Symptoms of SAD<\/h2>\n

SAD is similar to other types of depression except that the symptoms follow a predictable pattern, waxing and waning during certain months of the year. Those symptoms, which can range from mild to severe, include:<\/p>\n