Winter and Seasonal Affective Disorder Explained
With the onset of the winter season, several individuals experience a shift in mood, along with energy and focus. Shorter daylight and drops in temperature influence brain health, which leads to symptoms of seasonal affective disorders. It is critical to isolate symptoms that show signs of weakness in response to physiological changes. Moreover, awareness of this is a vital step to avoid such situations and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
In this blog, we will understand what is seasonal affective disorder, its symptoms, causes, and treatments to tackle such situations during winter.
Key Takeaways:
- Seasonal affective disorder happens due to the reduction in daylight and colder weather, which overall impacts energy and sleep cycles.
- Early recognition, along with structured therapy, helps maintain emotional and physiological balance.
- Professional assessment is a crucial parameter to ensure timely management during changing seasons.
5 Common Seasonal Affective Disorders You Must Know
Seasonal affective disorder is characterised as a mood-related condition and generally follows a seasonal rhythm which is linked with temperature changes and variation of light. In such cases, you may notice a decrease in energy, sleep, and a shift in mood with the reduction in daylight.
Here are five seasonal affective disorders which is common in winter:
1. Winter-Pattern Seasonal Affective Disorder
It is one of the most common forms of disorder which is prevalent during winter seasons. In such a condition, you may experience tiredness and crave food rich in carbohydrates. Some of the common symptoms of this disorder include reduced motivation and longer sleep cycles.
2. Late-Onset Winter Depression
Symptoms for this disorder appear during the middle of winter, and with the lack of sunlight, the effects multiply. In some cases, there is a deeper sense of emptiness and loss of engagement in daily tasks.
3. Recurrent Winter Depressive Disorder
The disorder occurs repetitively every year around the same time, which is usually during the winter season. You can experience a steady pattern of discomfort and lack of focus, which reflects how your body responds to reduced temperature.
4. Subsyndromal Winter Affective Disorder
It is considered one of the mild variants of seasonal affective disorder, and some of the common symptoms include poor concentration and irritability. There may not be signs of total discomfort and depression; however, in most cases, a structured activity and early exposure to sunlight can help manage the condition effectively.
5. Winter-Related Bipolar System
Individuals with bipolar disorder may feel lower levels of energy along with sadness during winter. However, the condition improves in other months. Moreover, it is important to ensure regular monitoring for appropriate medical care.
Next, let’s explore some of the prominent causes for seasonal affective disorders that drastically affect cognitive health.
Causes for Seasonal Affective Disorder
There is no exact reason known that causes seasonal affective disorder. However, several factors contribute to the development of depression during winter. Lack of sunlight during winter is a major trigger for SAD.
Here are some of the prominent seasonal affective disorder causes:
- Serotonin Levels: Serotonin is a critical neurotransmitter which affects the mood. Moreover, a reduction in sunlight can also cause a drop in serotonin levels and trigger depression.
- Melatonin Levels: Melatonin is the sleep hormone and helps sleep regulation of sleep patterns. The changes in season disrupt the overall balance of melatonin, which leads to mood changes and sleep problems.
- Vitamin D Deficiency: Sunlight is the primary source of vitamin D and is a critical source for creating serotonin. If you have a deficiency in vitamin D, it may lead to recurring symptoms of depression.
- Reduced Exposure to Sunlight: Shorter days in the winter and lower levels of sunlight can affect the regular functioning of the body.
Let’s understand how seasonal affective disorder affects mood, sleep, and energy during shorter winter days.
Symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder
Seasonal affective disorder is also known as a type of depression, and there is a prominent pattern of mood change. A 2025 meta-analysis suggests that the pooled estimate of 32,866 people shows SAD symptoms at 9.37% 1.
Here are some of the seasonal affective disorder symptoms that you must know:
- Mood Changes: It includes symptoms such as sadness, hopelessness, which persist for a season and have a major implication on motivation levels.
- Sleep Irregularity: Longer sleep hours and difficulty in maintaining the sleep cycle are common seasonal affective disorder symptoms.
- Loss of Appetite and Weight Change: Increased cravings for carbohydrate-rich food resulting in a sudden increase in weight.
- Social Withdrawal: Certain symptoms include reduced interest in social contact and lack of emotional engagement, which often leads to irritation and agitation.
- Lack of Concentration: In severe conditions, you may feel trouble concentrating and have sleeping problems and have thoughts of death or suicide.
Now, let’s understand the diagnosis process, which is vital to isolate seasonal affective disorder at early stages.
Diagnosis for Seasonal Affective Disorder
Even with thorough evaluation, it is difficult to assess the impact of seasonal affective disorder, and it becomes a challenging task for mental health professionals. It is primarily due to the overlapping symptoms of SAD with other mental health conditions.
Here are some of the diagnostic procedures to understand the effects of seasonal affective disorders:
- Physical Examination: Physical evaluation to assess seasonal affective disorder includes in-depth health questions. The questions are designed to assess the extent of depression to avoid further repercussions.
- Psychological Evaluation: To assess clinical signs of depression, the mental health care provider an ask you regarding symptoms such as thoughts, feelings and symptoms. The psychological evaluation is also based on feelings and behaviours and includes questionnaires.
- Serological Tests: One of the most common types of blood tests includes the complete blood count (CBC) test, and other tests include assessing thyroid levels.
Winter-related mood variations require expert consultation and timely assessment from the best hospitals in Kolkata can help you mitigate the negative effects of SAD.
Winter and Its Impact on Seasonal Affective Disorder
Shorter daylight, along with lower temperatures, are critical factors which affect brain health severely. A recent study highlights that out of 21,560 found that depression is correlated with both temperature and day length 2.
Here are some of the winter-related impacts associated with seasonal affective disorder:
- Vitamin D and Neurochemistry: In winter, there is a severe reduction in UV-B levels, which limits the cutaneous vitamin D synthesis. Moreover, reduction in vitamin D is also associated with discomfort and mood changes; therefore is a critical metric to assess winter-pattern depression.
- Regional Climate Signals: An example of regional changes in climate involves Rajasthan, which links depression with photoperiod and temperature. In such arid conditions, alcohol consumption increases during November and December. Such signals support winter-focused care in Indian clinics.
- Sleep Architecture: Early darkness increases the secretion of melatonin and pushes towards a late wake-up, which disrupts the overall sleep cycle. During the winter season, you may also experience hypersomnia along with low alertness during working hours.
Early assessment of SAD allows for accurate intervention through evidence-based treatment to restore emotional balance and resilience.
Treatment and Care for Seasonal Affective Disorder
Seasonal affective disorder treatments predominantly include both psychotherapy and medications. However, the medications and care plan may vary if you have bipolar disorder.
Let’s explore some of the treatments and seasonal affective disorder medications which your healthcare professional may provide:
Light Therapy: Also known as phototherapy, where you are requested to sit a foot away from a special light, and the light mimics the patterns of outdoor light. It is one of the first lines of treatment for SAD.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): CBT is a type of talk therapy which is effective in treating SAD. It is one of the most effective strategies and has long-term positive implications compared to other procedures.
Antidepressant Medication: Medications for depression are often what doctors prescribe for chronic symptoms. In some cases, it also behaves as a combinational drug with light therapy. Antidepressants such as bupropion may help reduce the chances of depressive episodes.
Supplements: Vitamin D supplements help reduce the progression of symptoms for seasonal affective disorder. However, it is best to consult with your physician before taking any such medication.
Also read: Brain and Body: The Neurological Benefits of Regular Physical Activity
Managing SAD with Care and Awareness
Seasonal affective disorder symptoms include lasting sadness, along with poor focus and loss of motivation. Seasonal affective disorder icd 10 classification recognises it as a recurrent form of depression which is influenced by seasonal changes, especially in the winter. Appropriate recognition of the early signs with a well-structured treatment strategy helps maintain emotional state and reduce relapse during winter.
Eskag Sanjeevani Hospitals have some of the best psychiatrists in Kolkata, and the department provides expert diagnosis and treatment, which is tailor-made for each patient. The hospitals have dedicated inpatient and outpatient services along with evidence-based management to maintain continuous follow-ups and sustainable recovery.
Some of the effective treatments for seasonal affective disorder include light therapy, psychotherapy, and antidepressants. Other treatment procedures include indoor and outdoor sun exposure with regular exercise.
Sudden changes in mood and behaviour during seasonal changes are critical signs which suggests that suggest you are experiencing seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Most individuals experience such symptoms during the early and late winter, and it is known as the winter-pattern SAD.
There is no scientific evidence that vitamin D helps in treating SAD symptoms. In some cases, you may experience a sudden surge in energy levels with regular consumption of vitamin D. However, it is best to consult with your physician before consuming vitamin D supplements.
There is no certain age for developing SAD. However, the typical age to develop SAD is between 18 and 30.
In mild conditions, maintaining a structured sleep schedule, with regular exercise and morning sunlight exposure, may help individuals. However, elevated symptoms require professional care from physicians.