December is a month known for events….and emotions.  Excitement, fun, contentment, anxiety, loneliness, fullfillment, sadness…a full spectrum of emotional possibilities.  And sometimes many positive and negative at the same time.

It is also a time when we have the shortest days of the year It is the time of year when sadness and depression are at their highest in the Northern Hemisphere.  Sometimes that sadness or depression is due to a condition called “Seasonal Affective Disorder” or SAD. Some research estimates that it affects up to 20% of the American population (half a million Americans). It can affect women, men, teens and children.

Although your symptoms are clues to the diagnosis, not everyone who has SAD experiences the same symptoms. Common symptoms of winter-onset SAD include the following:

• A change in appetite, especially a craving for sweet or starchy foods
  
• Weight gain
  
• A drop in energy level
  
• Fatigue
  
• A tendency to oversleep or even restless sleep
  
• Difficulty concentrating
  
• Irritability
  
• Anxiety or worry
  
• Increased sensitivity to social rejection
  
• Avoidance of social situations and a loss of interest in the activities you used to enjoy

Most researchers agree that SAD is due to a combination of factors including hormone imbalances (ie melatonin) and neurotransmitter imbalances, all due to the change in the amount of sunlight.  There is new research that is looking at Vitamin D (which is also a hormone) as a variable in this issue as well. 

Treatments include light boxes which have full-spectrum lights, balancing hormones, vitamins, getting exercise, and stress reduction.  If you have an opportunity to go to a warmer, brighter climate, that has been shown to be helpful as well.

It is important to note that all of these symptoms could be due to other health concerns including more serious depression or anxiety concerns, so getting a medical evaluation would be important.  Also, getting a medical evaluation for SAD could pinpoint which treatments would be most successful for you.

So, if you have the blues more than a couple of days, maybe it is time to get an evaluation.