• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Login/ Register
  • Editorial Team
  • Get Involved

Exeposé Online

Making the headlines since 1987

Exeposé Online
  • Home
  • News
      • Local
      • COVID-19
      • University News
  • Comment
  • Features
      • National
      • Worldwide
      • Politics
      • Interviews
  • Science
      • News
      • Lite Science
      • Common Misconceptions
      • Environment
      • Health
      • Technology
  • Sport
  • Lifestyle
      • Fashion and Beauty
      • Features
      • Food
      • Wellbeing
      • Sustainability
  • Music
      • Interviews
      • Features
      • Live Reviews
      • Album Reviews
      • Single Reviews
  • Screen
      • Reviews
      • Features
      • Interviews
      • Festivals and Awards
  • Arts + Lit
      • Interviews
      • Features
      • Reviews
      • Creative Writing
  • Amplify
  • International
  • Multilingual
  • News
  • Comment
  • Features
  • Science
  • Tech
  • Sport
  • Lifestyle
  • Music
  • Screen
  • Arts + Lit
  • Amplify
  • International
  • Multilingual
Home / Lifestyle

Am I sad or do I have SAD?

Am I sad or do I have SAD?

Dec 19, 2019 – by Courtney Priday

As winter prevails, Courtney Priday discusses how these cold months can affect our mood

Making the distinction between mental illness and mental wellbeing and how we can support each other.

Seasonal Affective Disorder commonly known as “SAD” or “the winter depression” is a form of depression in which sufferers experience symptoms in correlation to the change in seasons. In 2014 a report was published suggesting at least 29% of people in Britain suffered from SAD in the winter but due to the nature of the disorder it takes time to diagnose. The symptoms can sound all too familiar to many of at this time of year but we must be mindful of the making generalisations between SAD and the odd feeling of winter blues.

sufferers experience symptoms in correlation to the change in seasons

SAD is most commonly diagnosed after GPs have observed patterns in the symptoms of sufferers for at least two years. The disorder is characterised by bouts of depression followed by periods without. Like many forms of depression symptoms include:

  • Feeling unsocial and unmotivated to continue with daily tasks.
  • Feeling stressed or anxious.
  • Feeling worthless, guilty or irritable.

But unlike most common forms of depression SAD is also characterised by feelings of lethargy and being particularly tired during the day. This is currently thought to be caused by a disruption to our circadian rhythms in the darker winter months. It is believed that SAD is caused by an increase in the production of melatonin, which helps us sleep and a decrease in the production of serotonin, which has been linked to affecting mood. As a result, treatments recommended by the NHS currently include talking therapies used for other forms of depression, such as cognitive behavioural therapy and counselling as well as prescription of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) in severe cases.

SAD is also characterised by feelings of lethargy and being particularly tired during the day

At the moment there is not enough evidence supporting the benefits of light therapy for SAD sufferers to make funding available however this is a treatment that can also be recommended by your doctor. Light therapy involves sitting by a lightbox which produces a bright light simulating the sun. This is thought to alleviate symptoms because it encourages the brain to increase the production of serotonin and decrease the production of melatonin, therefore restoring the circadian rhythm experienced in the summer months and improving mood. Despite the lack of research into light therapy as a treatment for SAD sufferers many users describe an alleviation of symptoms when using light boxes for 30-60 minutes every morning, suggesting potential for more research into its affects. However, these symptoms then return in the following year so treatment must be continual through each winter season and this does not account for those who experience periods of depression during the summer months.

So those are the facts, but how do we cope in these harsher winter months and grapple with these symptoms?

Over the past few years dialogue has opened up around SAD even though the term itself has been used since 1984. As with much of the conversation around mental health there is often confusion around diagnosed mental health illness and symptoms many of us can experience without actually living with the illness. This is often misrepresented in the media as a point of general wellbeing that can be improved alone but SAD is a very real form of depression that should be regarded with care. There are many benefits to making active choices to improve your mental wellbeing, but presentation of SAD in the winter months as a vehicle to encourage general wellbeing is a slippery slope. If you identify with some of the issues and symptoms discussed in this article self-care such as mindfulness and working on communication can be beneficial. For all of us these are often particularly necessary during the winter months as our routines become less social and we wind down for the year. However, this should not be confused with the experiences of those who suffer with SAD and if you feel these patterns and feelings are impacting your life I sincerely encourage you to speak to your GP, either for clarification or treatment.

self-care such as mindfulness and working on communication can be beneficial

Not everyone with a mental health illness feels comfortable receiving a diagnosis but for some having a label enables them to communicate about their experiences so we must be careful to use this language properly and support those around us who find this time of year particularly challenging.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)

Related

Dec 19, 2019 By Courtney Priday Filed Under: Lifestyle, Wellbeing, Editors' Picks Tagged With: Exeter, exeposé, Winter, SAD, #lifestyle, sad disorder

Primary Sidebar

exeposelstyle

Looking for motivation to start exercising? Read D Looking for motivation to start exercising? Read Danni Darrah's suggestions for easy ways to exercise that everyone can enjoy🏃‍♀️🥊🏋‍♀️
Struggling with the return to normal uni life afte Struggling with the return to normal uni life after lockdown? In our latest article, Milly Earnshaw-White discusses how she has been dealing with the adjustment📖☕
Check out one of our latest articles, where Sienna Check out one of our latest articles, where Sienna White tells us her fashion faves and flops of the Met Gala 2021🧡
‘Sex education should be a safe space to explore ‘Sex education should be a safe space to explore sexual identity, healthy relationship behaviour, reproductive health, bodily anatomy, and so much more’
Check out another one of our latest articles (link Check out another one of our latest articles (link in bio), where Lucy Evans takes us on a tour of the best places to enjoy brunch in Exeter! ☕🍳🥞
As the days get shorter, Zoe Sperry shares her tip As the days get shorter, Zoe Sperry shares her tips on how to make your uni room a home away from home - check it out through the link in our bio!
Nominations are now open for the Exeposé by-elect Nominations are now open for the Exeposé by-elections and there are two print Lifestyle editor positions up for grabs! 
✨
Print editors come up with content calls every other week for students to write, then edit these articles and design the pages for the print edition of Exeposé
✨
Write a 150-200 word manifesto explaining what you would like to do in the role and why you should be elected to it
✨
Upload your manifesto to the Exeposé Guild page by Friday 22nd October
✨
Check the Exeposé Members 2021-22 page on Facebook, or your Exeter email address, for more information
✨
DM us on Insta or message Katie or Sophie (the online Lifestyle editors) on Facebook if you have any questions. Lifestyle is a really fun section to edit and you learn a lot of useful skills from it, so we really recommend you run in the election!
Meet the committee! Here is Sophie, our other onli Meet the committee! Here is Sophie, our other online editor🤩
Meet the committee!! First up is Katie, one of our Meet the committee!! First up is Katie, one of our two online editors🥳
Load More… Follow on Instagram
Tweets by Exeposé Lifestyle

Contact Us: editors@exepose.com

Since 1987, Exeposé has given a voice to Exeter students. Over the years, the determination and political fervour exhibited by students through Exeposé have helped shape the University we study at today. We have received national recognition for our award-winning campaigns, investigations and surveys, and always strive to provide students with high-quality news, comment and features.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in articles and comments do not reflect the views of Exeposé Online or the University of Exeter Student's Guild.

        


© 2022
Website design: Harry Caton and Ellie Cook
Webdesign & development: Harry Caton