What is Seasonal Affective Disorder?

Seasonal affective disorder (often shortened to SAD) is a condition that mainly affects people in the autumn and winter months. However, it can affect people in spring and summer as well.

The symptoms of SAD are similar to general depressive disorders, such as low mood, fatigue, insomnia, feelings of guilt or fear, and anxiety. People can lose interest in the things that they once enjoyed and this can make life much more difficult.

It’s thought that SAD is caused by decreased sunlight hours, which disrupts your natural circadian rhythm and melatonin levels. The lack of sunlight in the winter months also leads to low vitamin D levels, which can cause anxiety and low mood.