Weather changes tend to have a profound effect on us. As a result of this, we tend to feel a little depressed or low, when the days are short or exceptionally cold. However, changes in the season are not limited to feeling the blues; they can also affect a person’s health to the extent of making them seriously ill. Medically, this is termed as seasonal affective disorder (SAD) which is a form of being low and depressed, affecting our health and temperament in a big way. Not everyone gets affected by SAD, but longer nights and shorter days can have a severe effect on certain people.

Seasonal affective disorder can occur in mild and severe forms and is believed to effect as many as 20% of the United States population. Fact remains that in most cases people may not be even aware of the fact that they are suffering from any such condition as most do not know the symptoms. The most sought after symptoms of SAD are:

Melancholy

One of the most important and obvious forms of seasonal affective disorder is sudden onset of grief and sadness, showing all the symptoms of these emotions. Patients of SAD show feelings of misery and despondency with a complete decline in any form of activities including that of socialising and indulging in some merry making.

How do we distinguish SAD from depression?

If a person experiences such symptoms continuously for 2 weeks, then this could very well be some form of depression. But if these symptoms are restricted to only fall and winter, then you are suffering from SAD.

Fatigue and Lethargy

Individuals with SAD can feel the need to over sleep all through the wintertime, with the sleepiness refusing to leave them. As per research, people with SAD tend to sleep for a few hours more than normal individuals, ranging from 1 to 3 hours more, with the least sleep in summers and the most in winters. Another accompanying symptom is that they do not feel well rested even after having good nights sleep. This is because, people with SAD may sleep, but the sleep may be disturbed as a result of which they may not feel rested. Another symptom of SAD is that these people are more prone to nodding off at work.

Bad temper

Another important factor that accompanies SAD is irritability and bad temper. In most cases, people tend to be extremely angry and irritable when they have had a troubled night’s sleep. But, these symptoms are mostly overlooked as people do not realise that there could be more to such mood swings than a part of general behaviour. But people with seasonal affective disorder are a lot more edgy and bad tempered than normal individual. In some cases, a fit of anger can be accompanied by depression and sadness.

Increased desire for food

In a manner similar to being depressed, SAD can increase people’s appetite. This is one of the reasons, more that 50 % people suffering from seasonal affective disorder can report increased hunger during winter months. Medically this is believed to be due to decrease in the level of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that is linked to moods and can affect a person’s appetite. This action has momentary gratification but can lead to people gaining excess of weight. More than 75% of people with SAD report increase in weight.

Increased craving for Carbs

Most people with SAD show special craving for particular form of carbs found in bread and pasta. More than 70% of people report of this issue. Carbohydrates are known to help people get temporary relief and a sense of elation by releasing endorphins, a feel good hormone. But it also means a huge increase in ones waistline.

Decreased concentration

Depression can also affect ones functioning of the brain, affecting concentration, memory speaking ability and thought process management. Depression can not only make you feel sad and alone, but it can also compromise on the functioning of your brain.

Loss of interest in sexual acts

Series of depression and being low for a long time can affect the way one feels about themselves and their body. This in turn can have a very serious effect on a person’s health. Loss of sexual desire is an important symptom of SAD.

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