Autumn Is Here, But That Means SAD Is Just Around The Corner
“Girls love fall so much… You don’t even have to tell girls when it’s fall. We know. The second it turns fall, the second a leaf falls somewhere in, like, Connecticut, we feel it… Cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves… pumpkin everything! Pumpkin! Eat the pumpkins! Let’s plan fall shit!”
As Autumn Equinox approached, I saw this quote from Iliza Shlesinger’s Freezing Hot special, a lot. There’s also a lot of truth to it, at least for me anyway. This shitshow of a year has had me dreaming of cosy nights in with a hot drink and a blanket since midsummer, whilst I spent my time inside, slow roasting in my flat in 37 degree heat. But I digress. Autumn is here. Pumpkin spice might feel like it’s gonna fix all of our personal calamities of the past eight months, but if Seasonal Affective Disorder – SAD, for short – is on your annual agenda as we drift our way out of summer, you may be disappointed.
So what is SAD? Simply, it’s a depressive disorder that mostly strikes in the colder, darker months (although there are cases known to be the other way around). Lesser known than its other depression counterparts, it actually affects one in three people, which to me is an alarming stat considering the somewhat smaller conversation around it. It’s also known as “winter depression”, which quite literally explains it on the tin, and it’s given that name because its symptoms are more prevalent – and for some, only prevalent – in winter. Any gender can fall prey to it, but studies have shown that women are 40% more likely to develop it.
Like depression itself, SAD comes with a multitude of symptoms. Persistent low mood, irritability, and loss of pleasure or interest in everyday things are all on the list of signs of Seasonal Affective Disorder, as well as feelings of guilt or despair, weight gain, or out of the ordinary levels of food cravings. Also, much like depression, your sleep cycle can often be targeted, with extreme fatigue kicking in, as well as sleeping for longer, or struggling to wake up in the mornings. Like all mental health conditions, everyone’s experiences and symptoms are different, so one person may find that they tick off the entire list, whilst another perhaps faces just a few of them.
Nobody’s certain as to what exactly causes Seasonal Affective Disorder, but most research thus far links its prevalence in winter months to the lack of sunlight exposure that we experience in the shorter days of autumn and winter. It’s believed that the lack of sunlight exposure takes a toll on our hypothalamus (which is the part of your brain that controls various functions, including your brain’s link to your nervous system), and that can impact your body’s natural production of hormones as melatonin (an increase makes you sleepy) and serotonin (a decrease affects your mood and appetite). It also can play silly buggers with your circadian rhythm, which is basically your body’s internal clock.
Just like other mental health conditions, treatment is available, and local health providers would be more than happy to discuss the various options depending on your circumstances. Some of these include light therapy, talking therapies, and even medication. If you think you may have SAD or are struggling as a result of SAD, book a consultation with your GP or mental health practitioner and feel assured that you don’t have to suffer in silence.
Photo credit: Jakob Owens
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