Summer is synonymous with warm weather, sunshine, and vacations. It symbolizes fun and carefree time. It is not surprising that summer is considered the favorite time of the year by many people. Like all good things though, summer must come to an end. The warm weather, the long, lazy hot days, and time spent outdoors begin to fade. Saying goodbye to summer as it draws to a close and transitions into the more structured routines of the fall season may not be easy.

The upcoming season can be a time of new beginnings. Hand-in-hand with the temperature and daylight changes, you may be confronting changes for yourself or for significant people in your life. Maybe your children need to prepare for a new school year, or you are starting a project. The calendar is once again brimming with overlapping events, and you are wondering how you will tackle them all. The seasonal transition may affect you physically, relationally, and emotionally. The changes in schedules, routines, expectations, and even relationships can be a lot to take in all at once.

Seasonal Change in Mood and Behavior

Seasonal changes can affect your mood and behavior. When winter turns to spring, increased energy often replaces winter’s dormancy. This growth in energy tends to continue throughout the summer. The second big seasonal shift happens in autumn as the growth energy of spring and summer begins to fade, and the colder seasons begin.

Science shows that the reason for mood and behavior change is attributed to the shifts in the amount of available daylight over the seasons. During autumn, the days are shorter, and the periods of daylight are reduced. This can lead to decreased energy and even symptoms of seasonal depression.

If you find yourself thrown off kilter with the coming of autumn, it is not your imagination. Feeling the ‘blues’ as the longer hours of darkness and lower temperatures set in can be natural. If, however, the end of summer leaves you feeling sad, stressed, or unmotivated for extended periods of time you may have symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Seeking professional help can help with SAD.

Colder, Bluer Days

Seasonal Affective Disorder, also known as SAD, is a depressive disorder that comes and goes with the seasons. Also called the “winter blues,” SAD starts to appear in the fall, continues into the cold winter months, and goes away during the rest of the year. As autumn comes closer, the symptoms can sap your energy level, causing you to feel moody, irritable, persistently exhausted, and unmotivated. 

The cause is unknown, but evidence points to its relation to the level of melatonin hormone that regulates the sleep-wake cycle. As the days become shorter and darker, the melatonin production is stimulated to increase, so you can feel sleepy and lethargic. Alternatively, SAD can cause difficulties regulating serotonin levels, a neurotransmitter responsible for influencing mood. People with SAD produce less Vitamin D, an important substance that plays a role in serotonin activity. Lack of vitamin D can trigger depression symptoms.

An estimated 10 million Americans are affected by Seasonal Affective Disorder, with women being four times more affected than men. The condition can have its onset between the age of 18 and 30, and is more common in residents far north or south of the equator. Individuals with a family history of other types of depression are at a higher risk of developing SAD.

Symptoms of SAD

Symptoms can vary from person to person. Some may experience severe symptoms that can affect their quality of life, cause isolation from family and friends, and some may even require hospitalization. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) includes the following symptoms commonly associated with SAD:

• Feelings of hopelessness and sadness
• Fatigue
• Hypersomnia or oversleeping
• Significant change in eating patterns
• Weight increase
• A heavy feeling in the arms or legs
• Decline in energy level
• Decrease in physical activity
• Difficulty in focusing or concentrating
• Bad temper
• Increased sensitivity to social rejection
• Aversion to social situations
• Self-Harm

Finding Light through Counseling

Seasonal Affective Disorder is treatable. Many find relief from light therapy, utilizing a lamp daily that mimics sunlight. While this can be effective, it isn’t always enough for remission. Therapy is often one of the most effective ways to treat SAD. 

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can be highly beneficial in challenging and replacing negative thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors that worsen symptoms. Carolina Counseling Services – Fuquay-Varina, NC contracts with expert therapists, many trained in CBT. 

Finding the therapist that is right for you is easy with CCS. Call today to get started. Online counseling sessions are available!