Winter Depression: Could you have Seasonal Affectiveness Disorder?

Watch Winter Depression: Could you have Seasonal Affectiveness Disorder? - National World - National Videos on Dailymotion

Transcript

00:00It's not uncommon to dread the change in the seasons and those long winter nights, however,

00:05if you start to feel that it's having an impact on your mental health or impacting your everyday

00:10life, you could be experiencing the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder, also known as SAD.

00:18According to a report by Healthwatch in 2023, 1 in 20 people in the UK are diagnosed with SAD,

00:25with men more likely to be diagnosed than women.

00:30SAD is a type of depression that often appears in a seasonal pattern. It's sometimes described

00:35as winter depression as symptoms of SAD can be more enhanced during the winter months for some

00:41people. According to the NHS, symptoms of SAD can include a persistent low mood, loss of pleasure

00:49or interest in normal everyday activities, irritability, feelings of despair, guilt and

00:55worthlessness, lacking energy, sleeping for longer than normal and finding it hard to get up in the

01:01morning, craving carbs and gaining weight, difficulty concentrating and a decreased sex drive.

01:09The causes of SAD are still not fully understood. It's thought to be linked to the lack of sunlight

01:15which can then interfere with a part of the brain that can affect the production of melatonin,

01:21serotonin and also the body's circadian rhythm or internal body clock. Treatment options for SAD

01:29outlined by the NHS include lifestyle recommendations such as getting more natural

01:34sunlight, light therapy such as using a light box or a SAD lamp, talking therapies or the use of

01:42antidepressant medications. If you suspect that you may have SAD, it's important to reach out to

01:49your GP with any concerns that you may have. You can find out more about SAD signs, symptoms

01:56and treatment options on...