Is it really just the winter blues?

Intense and prolonged sadness during the winter could be a sign of Seasonal Affective Disorder

While it is common to feel down as the days grow shorter and the weather gets colder, prolonged feelings of “Winter Blues” could be a sign of Seasonal Affective Disorder, also known as SAD.

According to Sherri Melrose in a 2015 study published by the Depression Research and Treatment Journal, SAD has been studied since the early 1980s. It was first discovered when a physician moved to the U.S. from South Africa and began noticing that he was less productive in the winter than the summer.

While SAD isn’t only found in the winter, it is most common during this period. It can be difficult to differentiate between simply feeling down and having SAD, especially with the increase in workload as exams get closer.

This disorder is not classified on its own, rather it is a subsect of major depression with a seasonal pattern, according to Melrose. Like most types of depression, people with SAD have a difficult time maintaining serotonin levels, a chemical that makes us feel happy.

In the study, Melrose stated that melatonin production is heightened in people with this disorder, which means they are more likely to feel drowsy. The decrease in serotonin and the increase in melatonin results in the body being unable to adjust to the change in daylight hours. Vitamin D is essential in serotonin production, and it is much harder for people further from the equator to get their fill during the winter.

According to Melrose, symptoms can include feeling depressed for a long period of time, having low energy, feeling irritable, lacking concentration, increase in hours of sleep, social withdrawal, and overeating. She also stated that this disorder is more common in those who live further from the equator, are between 18 and 30, and identify as female.

A study by Ybe Meesters and Marijke Gordijn published by Dove Medical Press Limited in 2016 revealed that two times the amount of people experience SAD in North America compared to Europe. However, while in North America those further from the equator were more likely to experience SAD, the same trend was surprisingly not present in Europe.

If you feel especially depressed whenever winter comes along but not for a prolonged period, it could be Subsyndromal Seasonal Affective Disorder (S-SAD).

Feeling down when there is not as much sunlight is usually to be expected, but it can be difficult to tell if it is something you should investigate.

If you have SAD or are concerned you may have SAD, there are a few treatment options. According to the 2016 study, light therapy is the most common treatment, where the patient is exposed to a bright artificial light.

Melrose’s 2015 study states that by using a light box in the morning for around half an hour on a daily basis during the winter, symptoms of SAD can be limited. Another treatment method is antidepressants, like other forms of depression. Vitamin D supplements are another option but are not as widely researched. Any of these treatments should be recommended and monitored by a health professional.

The best place to start if you think you may have SAD is by going to your doctor and getting an assessment. Wellness Guelph has a lot of great resources that are available on campus. On-campus counselling is free, and a student benefit plan can also help to cover some of the costs of off-campus counselling. The Student Support Network is another option if you are looking for confidential support from fellow students.

A version of this article appeared in print in The Ontarion issue 189.4 on Nov. 26, 2020

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