Driver Lifestyles

Why Am I So Emotional? A Look at Seasonal Affective Disorder

By Jason McGlone
Posted Mar 30th 2010 12:10PM

The chances are probably pretty good that you've felt a little down over the last few months.  How could you not?  With the economy's uncertainty, the knowledge that carriers have been in trouble, the fact that the per-mile rates haven't recovered in the same way that freight figures have, it's totally understandable.  That said, there's another perfectly reasonable explanation for that malaise you might be just now finding yourself climbing your way out of: Seasonal Affective Disorder.

It's something you might have experienced before: depression and/or emotional fluctuations that appear to change with the seasons.  The Mayo Clinic's admittedly simple definition of SAD reads, "Seasonal affective disorder (also called SAD) is a type of depression that occurs at the same time every year."  You'll notice that this definition doesn't lock a person into fall or winter as their "time" to be depressed; the Mayo Clinic says that, while it's not particularly common, that SAD can happen in spring or summer, as well. 

SAD goes beyond a simple case of the "Winter blues."  It's marked by a number of symptoms that you'd expect to see with depression: anxiety, feelings of hopelessness, weight gain, oversleeping, a loss of interest in things you typically enjoy, and a general loss of energy.  Now, it's normal to have days where you feel down from time to time, but if you're feeling down for days at a time and are having a hard time motivating yourself to do the things that you'd normally do on a day-to-day basis, you might think about seeing your doctor. 

The causes of SAD are generally unknown, although it's likely that there are multiple factors that contribute to its incidence, such as genetics, age, and the individual's chemical makeup.  SAD seems to occur more often in women, people who live farther from the equator, and in people who have had a family history of depression and instances of seasonal affective disorder. 

The American Psychiatric Association notes that SAD isn't just a standalone disorder, but rather a signifier of a larger pattern of depression that they refer to as an example of Major Depressive Episodes.  The difference between SAD and, say, other types of depressive episodes, is that SAD occurs at specific times of the year, where other episodes tend not to be associated with seasonal changes in any way.  A SAD diagnosis is reasonably specific, as well, and must meet four criteria: depressive episodes during a particular season (fall/winter or spring/summer); remission also occurs during a particular season; a pattern showing that these symptoms have lasted two years with no unrelated depressive episodes during that same period; finally, these seasonal episodes should outnumber other depressive episodes throughout the patient's lifetime.

According to the Mayo Clinic, the treatments for SAD are varied both in methodology and seriousness.  They can include light therapy, medications, and psychotherapy.  In light therapy, which is also known as phototherapy, the doctor will prescribe a specially made light box or visor.  The light devices are intended to be a surrogate for sunlight, which wouldn't typically be as available during the Fall and Winter months.  Typical usage calls for 30 minutes or so of exposure to the light provided by the device until Springtime, when more sunlight is available. 

Phototherapy may not work for everyone, and lots of folks seem to find it inconvenient to use, since it's essential to set aside time for the treatment and some well-known side effects are eye strain, headaches,fatigue, and irritability.  If you are taking certain drugs that make your skin more sensitive you light, phototherapy may not be for you, either--too much exposure to these lights can prove to be rough on you. 

There are also a number of different antidepressant drugs that are used for SAD that seem to help; most treatment schedules I was able to find seem to combine light therapy with drugs, ionized air therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy or supplementation of the hormone melatonin to combat its ill effects. 

While results will obviously vary from person to person, the most important thing to note is that if you're depressed in a way that goes beyond just having a case of "the blues," seeing a doctor is your best bet.  Your honesty with your doctor in cases like this are paramount; without a clear idea of your specific situation with respect to SAD (should you be diagnosed with it), it'll be difficult for your doctor to prescribe you the correct treatment or treatments--and since SAD is often just a signifier of a larger issue, you owe it to yourself and your loved ones to ensure that you're well taken care of.

Resources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seasonal_affective_disorder
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/seasonal-affective-disorder/DS00195
http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/mentalhealth/depression/267.html