You may have heard of Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, which is defined as a type of depression that is related to a change in seasons. You may already know that it affects people as the days grow shorter and the sunlight grows less abundant. It affects between four to six percent of the United States population— and did you know it can affect people in the summer, too?

Lots of SAD sufferers report feeling the blues around the same time every year— when fall turns to winter, or when spring turns to summer. It may feel like a seasonal funk that you chalk up to stress, but it could be a really deep depression— it depends on the individual. SAD is actually a subtype of major depression, so it does share some symptoms with the disorder. It’s caused by changes in our circadian rhythms, as well as melatonin and serotonin levels.

According to the Mayo Clinic, here are some symptoms of each type of Seasonal Affective Disorder:

FALL AND WINTER SAD

Symptoms specific to winter-onset SAD, sometimes called winter depression, may include:

• Irritability
• Tiredness or low energy
• Problems getting along with other people
• Hypersensitivity to rejection
• Heavy, “leaden” feeling in the arms or legs
• Oversleeping
• Appetite changes, especially a craving for foods high in carbohydrates
• Weight gain

SPRING AND SUMMER SAD

Symptoms specific to summer-onset seasonal affective disorder, sometimes called summer depression, may include:

• Depression
• Trouble sleeping (insomnia)
• Weight loss
• Poor appetite
• Agitation or anxiety

If you find yourself suffering from these symptoms for two weeks or more ,and they are really messing with your daily life, you may want to let your doctor know or talk it out in therapy. You may be more at risk of SAD if you are female, living far away from the Equator, are young, and have a family or personal history of bipolar disorder or depression.

If you’ve got the blues, be sure to talk to someone. Often just talking can help alleviate your symptoms, or your doctor could put you on a medical treatment that may have you feeling better in no time. Just know you are not alone, and you’re not abnormal if you’re experiencing SAD! That’s right, even in the sunny summer 🙂 SAD is a very real depressive disorder. Take it seriously and get the help you need if you find yourself experiencing symptoms.

Have you ever experienced Seasonal Affective Disorder? Share your story with us in the comments, or download Hey! VINA to meet others who’d like to share their experiences.

(Featured image via @milesdealmas)