Are you susceptible to seasonal affective disorder? Read on to know more

Are you feeling gloomy this winter? If you said yes, then watch out ladies–it can be a sign of seasonal affective depression.
seasonal affective disorder
Winter and winter blues are synonymous to each other. Image courtesy: Shutterstock.
Team Health Shots Updated: 12 Dec 2019, 07:35 pm IST
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You might love the winter season, but not everybody does. For some winters can be sad and gloomy. If that’s the case with you then there might be a possibility that you are hit by SAD aka seasonal affective depression.

Ladies, worrying won’t help–but being aware is a must. Unfortunately, SAD is like any other type of depression, apart from the fact that it stays for a season or two.

Always tired? This can be a symptom of SAD. Image courtesy: Shutterstock

So, let’s look deeper and see what it’s all about.

First, let’s figure out what makes people vulnerable to SAD
Turns out that women are more vulnerable to SAD than men. People with a family history of SAD and/or are affected by bipolar disorder are also at risk. Apart from this, many other factors can play a pivotal role as well:

1. The winter season is a culprit for sure
Season is an important factor. This depression prevails in the winter months and tends to resolve in springtime.

2. Less sunshine is another factor to watch out for
Depression during winter is caused due to the unavailability of inadequate sunlight. So, get under the sun as much as you can.

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3. Your hormones are to blame too
According to a 2001 study, titled Seasonal Affective Disorder and Serotonin-Related Polymorphisms, SAD is caused by a lack of serotonin. Basically it’s a chemical produced by the nerve cells associated with mood.

4. The melatonin effect
Melatonin is a hormone that is produced due to darkness or when there isn’t enough sunshine. An overdose of this hormone will make you feel sleepy throughout. A study published in the journal Depression Research and Treatment suggests that as winter days become darker, melatonin production increases, making you feel tired all the time. The result? SAD.

5. Pollution and climate change are in the race too
Yet another factor with which we are dealing on a day to day basis is the pollution and smog. A smog cover during the winter season, especially when it is as severe as it is North India, prevents sunlight from reaching the Earth’s surface, which causes gloominess.

6. Less vitamin D can increase your chances of SAD
A new study led by researchers from the University of Georgia has found that if your body is deficient in vitamin D then you might be on the verge of seasonal depression.

So, these are some factors that you should watch out for as these are very capable of throwing you in the ditch with seasonal affective depression. So, be safe ladies.

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