MEDIA RELEASE: Seasonal Affective Disorder

Last Updated: 10/6/2025

The autumn season is officially upon us, which means cooler temperatures, and shorter daylight hours. For many people this brings about feelings of sadness and a general feeling of being “off”. These feelings usually subside once spring arrives, bringing with it longer daylight hours. But for others, these feelings linger and become more serious, affecting how they feel, think, and behave. These significant changes in mood and behavior when the seasons change might indicate seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Most cases of SAD start in the late fall or early winter, and leave during the spring and summer, known as winter-pattern SAD or winter depression.

Since SAD is a type of depression, it shares many symptoms, like:

• Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood
• Irritability, frustration, or restlessness
• Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities
• Decreased energy, fatigue, or feeling sluggish
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
• Changes in sleep or appetite or unplanned weight changes
• Physical aches or pains that do not have a clear physical cause and do not go away with treatment

Additional symptoms that people experiencing SAD may exhibit include oversleeping, overeating (particularly with a craving for carbohydrates), and social withdrawal. It’s important to note that winter-pattern SAD is distinct from “holiday blues”. The depression associated with SAD is related to changes in daylight hours, not the calendar. Stressors related to the holidays, predictable seasonal changes in work or school schedules, and family visits are not the same as SAD.

If seasonal affective disorder is impacting you, treatments are available to help! This can include light therapy, talk therapy, antidepressants, and Vitamin D. It’s important to speak with your healthcare provider if you think you might have SAD, and to help find a treatment that works for you.

There’s also self-care that you can do on your own to help lessen the effects of SAD, like:

• Make your environment sunnier and brighter
• Get outside
• Exercise regularly
• Prioritize healthy sleep habits

To learn more about SAD, visit tioga.crediblemind.com/topics/seasonal-affective-disorder.

##