MMIA Magazine - Million Moms In Action Magazine One Year Anniversary Issue | Page 6

SEASONAL
DEPRESSION
VS. DEPRESSION
ARE THEY ALIKE, DIFFERENT, OR ONE IN THE SAME?
By Amanda M. Boyd, RN
What is this feeling I am feeling? Here I am in the month of mid to late September and I cannot seem to drag
myself out of bed. Just weeks ago I was high, soaring, and productively setting and reaching goals. If you
find yourself asking this question each year, then indeed you may suffer from something called Seasonal
Affective Disorder or SAD. Many people suffer from this best kept secret, in fact, living in the Midwest I
myself experience SAD year after year. SAD is a disorder that is directly associated with depression and
related to seasonal variations in light. To my surprise, I learned that half a million individuals everywhere
are impacted by SAD from September to April. And if that is not bad enough there is usually a peak
in symptoms in the months of December, January, and February (possibly directly associated with the
holidays). After doing my research I found that many people are affected by a milder form of SAD but, go
unreported and treated each year.
PREVALENCE/RISK FACTORS
• Three out of four SAD sufferers are women.
• The main age of onset of SAD is between 18
and 30 years of age.
• Those with a family history of SAD or any
other mood disorder/depression
• Those living far from the equator, which
decreases the amount of sunlight
THE SYMPTOMS
A diagnosis of SAD can be made after three
consecutive winters of the following symptoms if
they are also followed by complete remission of
symptoms in the spring and summer months:
• Depression: misery, guilt, shame, loss of
self-esteem, helplessness, hopelessness, despair, and apathy

• Anxiety: tension and inability to identify
and manage stress
• Mood changes: extremes of mood and, in
some, periods of mania in spring and summer
• Sleep problems: desire to sleep too much
and difficulty staying awake or, sometimes,
disturbed sleep at night despite early risings
• Lethargy: feeling of fatigue and inability to
complete daily responsibilities like: go to
work, care for personal hygiene, care for kids
(things that you would normally complete
with no problem)
• Overeating: craving for starchy and sweet
foods resulting in weight gain
• Social problems: unconsciously isolating
yourself from friends and family
• Sexual problems: loss of sexual drive, sexual
arousal, and satisfaction

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One Year Anniversary Issue