When you think of winter, you may at first associate it with the flu, colds or respiratory complications such as pneumonia. However, in the cooler months, seasonal affective disorder (SAD) may be often overlooked as a simple case of the 'winter blues' (Healthdirect 2024).

SAD is a mood disorder that takes the form of a seasonal depression each year, with the condition generally concluding in spring or summer (the warmer seasons). However, some people experience SAD through spring and summer, too (Healthdirect 2024).

Signs of Seasonal Affective Disorder

Autumn to Winter

Some of the SAD signs to watch for in autumn and winter include:

Decreased mood
Tiredness
Excessive sleeping
Increased weight
Increased appetite
Craving carbohydrates and sugar.

(Healthdirect 2024; Mayo Clinic 2021)

Spring to Summer

Some of the SAD signs to watch for in spring and summer include:

Agitation
Anxiety
Low appetite
Weight loss
Insomnia.

(Mayo Clinic 2021)

Additional Seasonal Affective Disorder Symptoms

Feeling depressed the majority of the day on most days
Lack of enjoyment for activities that are usually enjoyable
Poor concentration
Depressed, negative thoughts.

(Mayo Clinic 2021)

Complications of Seasonal Affective Disorder

If improperly managed, SAD may lead to:

Impaired functioning in daily life (e.g. work, relationships, quality of life)
Social isolation and withdrawal
Substance use disorders
Feelings of despair, worthlessness and hopelessness
Relationship and communication breakdowns
Physical health issues such as cardiovascular diseases and obesity
Mental illness.

(Munir et al. 2024)

Who Experiences Seasonal Affective Disorder?

Many people living in northern latitudes with fewer daylight hours during winter experience symptoms of SAD (Torres 2024). It’s rare in Australia (Better Health Channel 2018).

SAD is more common in women and young people (Torres 2024).

Typically, people with SAD will experience symptoms during roughly the same time every year. One benefit of this is that its predictability may help with implementing prevention or intervention strategies (Mayo Clinic 2021).

Can a Change of Scenery Help?

The prevalence of SAD ranges from 1 to 10% of the population, with the variance due to factors like differences in geographical latitude (Munir et al. 2024).

Living further away from the equator appears to increase the risk of SAD. This is quite possibly due to the limited sunlight in winter months and longer summer days (Mayo Clinic 2021).

Light Therapy for Seasonal Affective Disorder

woman undergoing light therapy whilst reading a book

Light therapy involves exposing a person to a light box that simulates sunlight in the hopes of manipulating the body clock and, in turn, influencing brain chemicals (NHS 2022, Mayo Clinic 2021).

Typically, the patient sits near the light box for 30 minutes to one hour every morning (NHS 2022).

While research on light therapy is limited, it appears to be effective in reducing symptoms of SAD after a few days to weeks (Mayo Clinic 2021).

Other Treatments for Seasonal Affective Disorder

These may include:

Medications, e.g. antidepressants
Psychotherapy, e.g. cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).

(Healthdirect 2024)

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