Affordable seasonal affective disorder (SAD) treatment online.

Yes, seasonal affective disorder is a recognized depression disorder. In the Diagnostic Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), it is identified as a type of depression — Major Depressive Disorder with Seasonal Pattern.¹

It is estimated that millions of Americans experience SAD, although many may not know they have this common disorder. In most cases, SAD begins in young adulthood. SAD occurs much more often in women than in men.²

Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is a type of depression. It happens during certain seasons of the year — most often fall or winter. It is thought the shorter days and less daylight may trigger a decrease in chemical transmitters in the brain, leading to symptoms of depression.³

Less sunlight and shorter days are thought to be linked to a chemical change in the brain and may be part of the cause of SAD.

Melatonin, a sleep-related hormone, also has been linked to SAD. The body naturally makes more melatonin when it's dark. So, when the days are shorter and darker, more melatonin is made.⁴

Fall-onset SAD is also called "winter depression." Symptoms of depression begin in the late-fall to early-winter months and ease during the summer months.

The signs and symptoms of SAD include those associated with depression as well as disorder-specific symptoms that differ for winter-pattern versus summer-pattern SAD, including:

1. Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks.

2. Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism.

3. Feelings of irritability, frustration or restlessness.

4. Feelings of guilt, worthlessness or helplessness.

5. Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities.

6. Decreased energy, fatigue or feeling slowed down.

7. Difficulty concentrating, remembering or making decisions.

8. Changes in sleep or appetite, or unplanned weight changes.

9. Physical aches, pains, headaches, cramps or digestive problems that do not have a clear physical cause and do not go away with treatment.

10. Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts.

Additional symptoms can include:

• Oversleeping (hypersomnia).

• Overeating, particularly with a craving for carbohydrates, leading to weight gain.

• Social withdrawal (feeling like hibernating).⁵

Spring-onset SAD is also called "summer depression." Symptoms of depression begin in late spring to early summer. This type is much less common.⁶

Summer-pattern SAD symptoms can include:

• Trouble sleeping (insomnia).

• Poor appetite, leading to weight loss.

• Restlessness and agitation.

• Anxiety.

• Violent or aggressive behavior.⁷

SAD and depression have similar symptoms. Doctors distinguish between the two primarily by the timing of symptom onset. They may diagnose you with seasonal affective disorder if:

• Your symptoms begin or worsen significantly in the late fall or early winter.

• The intensity of symptoms in fall/winter significantly outweighs nonseasonal symptoms.

• You’ve experienced a seasonal increase in symptoms for two or more consecutive years.

But, of course, you don’t have to wait two years to talk with your doctor. Contact them if you ever feel your depressed mood is persistent and affecting your quality of life.⁸

Yes. Also called clinical depression or major depressive disorder, depression is a mood disorder that causes you to feel sad or depressed all the time.⁹

The latest version of the World Health Organization’s International Statistical Classification of Diseases, ICD-11, has a unique category for SAD. It recommends diagnosing under 6A80.4, “Recurrent Depressive Disorder with seasonal pattern of mood episode onset.”¹⁰

1. American Psychiatric Association

2. National Institute of Mental Health

3. Johns Hopkins

4. Johns Hopkins

5. National Institute of Mental Health

6. Johns Hopkins

7. National Institute of Mental Health

8. Baptist Health

9. Baptist Health

10. American Psychiatric Association

11. World Health Organization

Treatment for seasonal affective disorder may include light therapy, psychotherapy and medications. If you have bipolar disorder, tell your health care provider and mental health professional — this is critical to know when prescribing light therapy or an antidepressant. Both treatments can potentially trigger a manic episode.¹

Psychotherapy, also called talk therapy, is another treatment option. A type of psychotherapy known as cognitive behavioral therapy may help.²

In addition to your treatment plan for seasonal affective disorder:

• Make your environment sunnier and brighter. Open blinds, trim tree branches that block sunlight or add skylights to your home. Sit closer to bright windows while at home or in the office.

• Get outside. Take a long walk, eat lunch at a nearby park, or simply sit on a bench and soak up the sun. Even on cold or cloudy days, outdoor light can help — especially if you spend some time outside within two hours of getting up in the morning.

• Exercise regularly. Exercise and other types of physical activity help relieve stress and anxiety, both of which can increase symptoms. Being more fit can make you feel better about yourself, too, which can lift your mood.

• Normalize sleep patterns. Schedule reliable times to wake up and go to bed each day. Especially for fall-winter onset, reduce or eliminate napping and oversleeping.³

There are also things you can do for yourself to help relieve symptoms of SAD:

• Get help. If you think you may be depressed, see a health care provider as soon as possible.

• Set realistic goals. Don't take on too much. Break large tasks into small ones, set priorities and do what you can as you can.

• Try to be with other people and confide in someone. It is usually better than being alone and secretive.

• Do things that make you feel better. Going to a movie, gardening or taking part in religious, social or other activities may help. Doing something nice for someone else can also help you feel better.

• Get regular exercise.

• Expect your mood to get better slowly, not right away. Feeling better takes time.

• Eat healthy, well-balanced meals.

• Limit alcohol intake.

• Stay away from drugs. These can make depression worse.

• Delay big decisions until the depression has lifted. Before deciding to make a significant transition — changing jobs, getting married or divorced — discuss it with others who know you well and have a more objective view of your situation.

• Remember: People rarely "snap out of" depression. But they can feel a little better day-by-day.

• Try to be patient and focus on the positives. This may help replace the negative thinking that is part of the depression. The negative thoughts will disappear as your depression responds to treatment.

• Let your family and friends help you.⁴

Although research has found a strong connection between vitamin D deficiency and depression, there’s a lack of research on whether vitamin D can improve the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder.⁵

A SAD lamp can offer an effective treatment for seasonal affective disorder. Features such as light intensity, safety, cost and style are important considerations.

Also known as a light therapy box, a SAD lamp is designed to deliver a therapeutic dose of bright light.⁶ It has white, fluorescent light tubes covered with a plastic screen to block ultraviolet rays. The light is about 20 times brighter than regular indoor light. The intensity of light emitted should be 10,000 lux.⁷

Don’t look directly into the light. Your exposure to the light should be indirect. Place the lamp about two to three feet away while you read, eat, work or do other activities.

Medications called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) can treat SAD. They improve your mood by regulating serotonin levels in your body.

Examples of some SSRIs include:

• Fluoxetine (Prozac®)

• Escitalopram (Lexapro®)

• Paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva®)

• Sertraline (Zoloft®)

• Citalopram (Celexa®)

• Bupropion XL (Wellbutrin XL®)

• Venlafaxine ER (Generic Effexor XR®)

Bupropion comes as an extended-release tablet. It can prevent seasonal depression episodes if taken daily from fall to early spring.⁸

Antidepressants work by changing how the brain produces or uses certain chemicals involved in mood or stress. They take time — usually four to eight weeks — to work.⁹

1. Mayo Clinic

2. Mayo Clinic

3. Mayo Clinic

4. Johns Hopkins

5. Healthline

6. Mayo Clinic

7. Cleveland Clinic

8. Cleveland Clinic

9. National Institutes of Mental Health