If you have SAD, you are not alone

5% of the U.S. population (16.5 million people) experiences seasonal depression each year.

4 out of 5 people who have seasonal depression are women.

People with SAD say it feels like

  • “Spending part of the year miserable and just waiting for the seasons to change”
  • “Shame because I have SAD in the summer, when most people are happy about warm weather”
  • “It’s impossible to recharge my energy in the winter”
  • “Dreading the change in seasons and the return of SAD even when I’m doing well”
  • “Anger that everyone else gets to enjoy fall while I spend it in a panic over what the next few months will feel like”

Signs and symptoms of SAD

Depression: Misery, guilt, loss of self-esteem, hopelessness, diminished interest in activities, despair, and apathy

Anxiety: Tension and inability to tolerate stress

Mood changes: Extremes of mood and, in some, periods of mania in spring and summer

Sleep problems: Oversleeping and difficulty staying awake or, sometimes, disturbed sleep and early morning waking

Lethargy: Fatigue and inability to carry out normal routines

Overeating: Cravings for starchy and sweet foods resulting in weight gain

Social problems: Irritability and desire to avoid social contact

Sexual problems: Loss of libido and decreased interest in physical contact

Having SAD is not

  • The same as “winter blues.” Many people experience feeling a little down during the colder months, which is treatable with strategies like having a good sleep routine and getting exercise. SAD is a form of clinical depression, often requiring psychiatric treatment.
  • Just for women. While women are more likely to be diagnosed with SAD, it’s something that can impact anyone. Researchers aren’t sure why women are more susceptible – the data could just be the result of stigma and fewer men seeking out help for their mental health concerns.
  • Only in the colder months. SAD can occur in any season. It is much more common in the winter since SAD is primarily caused by reduced duration of light exposure, but shift-workers or people living in mountainous or rainy areas that block sunlight are more likely to develop SAD in the summer.

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If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. You can also reach Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741.