Is seasonal affective disorder the same as winter blues?

Is seasonal affective disorder the same as winter blues?

A: Seasonal affective disorder, SAD, is more than just the winter blues. SAD is characterized by two weeks or more of depressed mood. You have symptoms such as: Disturbances in your sleep.

How do you counteract winter blues?

Overcoming the winter blues

1. Exercise. Bundle up for a walk, swim indoors, or head to the gym.
2. Check your vitamin D levels.
3. Get some light therapy.
4. Eat a healthy diet.
5. Stimulate your senses.
6. Nurture your spirit.
7. Head to a sunnier climate.
8. See a therapist.

Can children suffer from seasonal affective disorder?

SAD usually develops in a person’s early 20s but can occur in older children and teens. The risk for the disorder decreases as you get older. SAD is diagnosed most often in young women, but men who have SAD may suffer more severe symptoms.

Does seasonal affective disorder get worse with age?

The risk of SAD decreases for adults as they age. SAD is more common in northern regions of the United States. Winters are typically longer and harsher there. There is also less sunlight because they are farther away from the equator.

Does SAD run in families?

Studies show that 25 to 67 percent of people with seasonal affective disorder have one or more relatives with such a disorder. These other disorders may run in families in part because they share some genetic risk factors with seasonal affective disorder.

What age group is most affected by seasonal affective disorder?

SAD is four times more common in women than in men. Although some children and teenagers get SAD, it usually doesn’t start in people younger than age 20. Your chance of getting SAD goes down as you get older.

Does going outside help with seasonal affective disorder?

Go Outside It has been shown that spending time outside, even when it’s cold, can help with SAD symptoms. Taking a walk within the first two hours of getting up is a great way to get fresh air and light, even if it’s cloudy.

Is SAD a form of bipolar?

Among individuals with seasonal affective disorder, the course is bipolar in an estimated 12% to 22% and unipolar in 78% to 88%. These estimates may reflect underdiagnosis of BD with seasonal pattern because hypomania is difficult to diagnose retrospectively.

What is the difference between winter blues and seasonal affective disorder?

You may feel down and out, but you are still completing your necessary daily tasks, such as going to work and completing household duties. Winter blues is to sadness as seasonal affective disorder is to depression. Lack of motivation to complete some tasks but can handle major requirements such as going to work and taking care of the house

Is there such thing as the winter blues?

Winter Blues – Seasonal Affective Disorder and Depression. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) — often referred to as “winter depression” — is a subtype of depression that follows a seasonal pattern. The most common form of SAD occurs in winter, although some people do experience symptoms during spring and summer.

Which is more common, seasonal affective disorder or sad?

Seasonal affective disorder is most prevalent during the winter months and when we think of SAD, we think of cold, dark winter days; however, SAD also appears in the summer, but at a much more rare occurrence. According to research, “A small share of people with SAD show the reverse pattern, being sensitive to summer’s longer days.

Can a teenager have seasonal affective disorder?

Depression can be a serious problem for adults and children alike. Regardless of the season, shifts in a child’s mood and/or attitude are not something to ignore or dismiss. What appears to be a teenager’s newly developed bad attitude could actually be a case of depression or, in some instances, Seasonal Affective Disorder.