Mr X, a 20-years old MBA student, came to the clinic with his father. The extraordinarily brilliant yet soft-spoken and introverted boy got admission to an MS course in Germany. He is goal-oriented and emotionally prepared to go out of the country. While pursuing engineering before his MBA, he adjusted very well to hostel life without his parents.

But this time, when he went to Germany within two days, he experienced the following signs: feeling extremely sad, unprovoked crying bouts, lack of will to do anything and felt he must go back to India as studying here is not his cup of tea.

Well, his parents and Mr X both felt that he was homesick and thus decided to visit home and go to the campus after a ten to fifteen days gap. Immediately after coming to India, Mr X, to his surprise, was feeling entirely healthy and motivated and his mood was also fine. Instead of fifteen days, he decided to fly back in five days. He reached Germany and similar feelings and symptoms returned. He was crying the whole day, unwilling to do anything and feeling worthless and hopeless, negative thoughts bombarded his mind and he had difficulty falling asleep. Well, this time, he was hesitant to tell his parents that he wanted to come back home. He tried to manage with the help of roommates but couldn’t. As a result, he went back again. His family was upset with his decision to run back home. No one was able to understand why this well-adjusted and mature child was facing difficulty in pursuing his degree in his dream college.

When he came to Search One Step Clinic, the Psychologist assessed him and told him this was not because of his inability to cope with a new environment, nor was it due to his immaturity or impulsiveness, but primarily it is because of the effect of the season.

Why was Mr X Suffering?

Mr X had never been to any cold countries before. Life outside of India, especially in European countries, is much slower and the pace of life slows down even more in the cold season. Winter is recorded as the laziest period of the year. So, we deduced that Mr X was suffering from Seasonal affective disorder (SAD). SAD is a category of depression that appears in particular seasonal conditions. Mostly in the cold season, many people suffer from SAD symptoms. Many people begin to recognize symptoms of SAD in the fall and it just gets worse in the winter months. However, some people even experience the same in the months of summer and spring.

Also read: Boost Your Mood: Methods To How To Increase Serotonin Levels

How to identify symptoms of SAD?

Persons with the winter version of SAD might also notice the following unique symptoms:

• Heaviness in arms and legs
• Frequent oversleeping
• Cravings for carbohydrates/weight gain
• Relationship problems

Symptoms specific to summer-onset seasonal affective disorder, sometimes called summer depression, may include:

• Trouble sleeping (insomnia)
• Poor appetite
• Weight loss
• Agitation or anxiety

Read More: Physical & Mental Sign of Depression

Causes

What really causes and triggers SAD remains elusive, i.e. it is still unknown. Some known triggers that be responsible are:

• The Circadian rhythm. It is your biological clock. The reduced level of sunlight in fall and winter may cause winter-onset SAD. This decrease in sunlight may disrupt your body’s internal clock and lead to feelings of depression.
• Serotonin levels. The decreased serotonin level or a drop in this chemical in the brain (neurotransmitter) that affects mood might contribute to SAD. Living in countries with reduced sunlight can cause drop-in serotonin and it may also trigger different kinds of depression.

Melatonin levels. The change in season can disrupt the balance of the body’s level of melatonin, which plays a role in sleep patterns and mood.

Read More: Causes of Depression – What are the Reasons for Feeling Depressed?

When to ask for help from a doctor?

Asking for help depends on identifying the symptoms at an early stage. Suppose the above-mentioned symptoms are disturbing your normal life, then never hesitate to reach out to a professional. Sometimes you notice major shifts in sleeping or eating, you are withdrawing socially or the activities that usually boost your mood don’t work, then it’s time to pick up your phone. Seek immediate help if you are using alcohol to manage symptoms or if you are experiencing suicidal thoughts.

Intervention:

It is always better to think and take a holistic approach to treatment. Medication, life skills improvement, Light therapy and self-help techniques are helpful. There is no one-size-fits-all treatment. Here are a few options to explore with your doctor.

• Pharmacotherapy – Medicine is proven to be effective. The antidepressant category of medicine is proven to be effective for people with SAD, especially those with intense symptoms. Medication requires long-term treatment. It could be from a few weeks to a few months. It’s also important not to stop taking the medication if you feel better. Consult with your doctor before you change your dosage and let him or her know if you experience any side effects.
• Psychotherapy – a Psychologist can help those with SAD. A psychotherapist can help you identify patterns in negative thinking and behaviour that impact depression, learn positive ways of coping with symptoms and institute relaxation techniques that can help you restore the lost energy. Long-term recovery requires practising recovery activities designed for you. Lifestyle modifications, activity planning, dealing with thinking errors and relapse prevention is the key to a successful recovery.
• Light therapy – Phototherapy is an effective and important form of treatment. It involves exposing oneself to light via a lamp or a special lightbox. The light produced is like the effects of natural light. It helps to trigger chemicals in your brain that help regulate your mood. This treatment has proven to be useful, especially for those who experience the winter version of SAD. Don’t make an impulse buy on the Internet, though, as essential to consult with your doctor first. You want to make sure you’ve purchased an effective and safe device.

Also Read: Treatment For Depression – Therapy, Medication & Other ways

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