Seasonal Affective Disorder is very common in the fall and winter while summer SAD is not as well known. During the cold fall months, many people start to feel signs of depression including sleepiness, eating lots of carbs and not having the energy to get out of bed. Then, when the flowers start to bloom, symptoms seem to disappear and energy levels rise. However, that’s not how it works for everyone.
For some people, summer time is when they feel their depression from weather is at it’s strongest. While others are enjoying the beach and sun, they spend the hot days in the house with no energy to go out. While winter SAD syndrome and summer SAD symptoms have many similarities, there are also some differences.
Similarities:
- loss of energy
- feeling agitated
- loss of interest in activities you usually enjoy
Differences:
- Winter SAD is caused by lack of sunlight while summer SAD is said to be a result of too much sunlight
- many people gain weight during the winter due to overeating but with summer SAD you can experiece loss of appetite
- winter SAD causes you to want to sleep a lot while summer SAD can cause insomnia
When dealing with many types of seasonal depression, light therapy is a great way to get rid of those unwanted symptoms without needing to take medication.