Seasonal Adjustment Disorder

"In addition to the common symptoms - depression, sleep disturbances, cravings for starchy, sugary food - individuals suffering with SAD may experience problems in other areas of their lives. They may perform poorly at work. Their relationships may become troubled. They may withdraw and just want to be alone." ~ Dr. Raymond Crowel (Mental Health America)

The other names for seasonal adjustment disorder (SAD) are Seasonal affective disorder, Winter depression, or the famously known, Winter Blues. SAD can be seen in as little as 1% of adult population in Florida to as high as 10% of adult population in New Hampshire. This mood disorder is also known to be prevalent in around 2% of the population in Northern Europe and is found more in women than men. Not only adults, SAD can also be seen in children. As per a survey done by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), almost 3% of children suffer from this disorder, and kids in the last 3 years of their high school are prone to suffer from this condition as well! When I went through these statistics, I was extremely shocked! Although the numbers are less, but there is no guarantee that these numbers won't include our loved ones, or even us! Therefore, it becomes extremely important for us to know more about this mood disorder, which is exactly what this article does, as it proceeds further!

What is Seasonal Adjustment Disorder?

Do you know what is adjustment disorder? It is when people suffer from extreme stress and depression, when it comes to making adjustments in their lives, like getting married, going to new school, or anything that changes their life in some way or the other. When it comes to seasonal adjustment disorder, a person gets depressed during seasonal changes. This happens mostly during winters, but may also occur during summers or spring as well! The person suffering from this disorder tends to become moody, sad, and depressed during a particular time of the year, usually a particular season, especially winters. Therefore, if you feel that the person tends to behave normal all throughout the year, but it's usually during a specific season, that he / she tends to become moody and depressed, there are chances that the person may be suffering from seasonal adjustment disorder!

Signs and Symptoms of Seasonal Adjustment Disorder

As mentioned earlier, SAD can be of many types, depending upon the season of the year. The symptoms of SAD in winters vary from SAD symptoms in summer. There is also a condition known as reverse seasonal adjustment disorder, which is when the person experiences issues like mania or hypomania due to seasonal changes. Again the symptoms of SAD may be different in children as well. Below is a list of all the symptoms of SAD, under all the aforementioned scenarios. Have a look!

SAD Symptoms in Children

• Anxiety
• Fatigue
• Difficulty concentrating
• Irritability
• Reduced energy levels
• Sleeping too much
• Not socializing
• Change in eating habits with cravings for starchy and sweet food items

Winter Seasonal Adjustment Disorder Symptoms

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Change in eating habits with cravings for carbohydrates in food.
• Tearfulness
• Lack of energy
• Lack of motivation
• Weight gain, due to sleeping and overeating!
• Sleeping too much
• Feeling hopeless
• Lack of enjoyment
• Social withdrawal
• Lack of concentration
• Headaches

Summer Seasonal Adjustment Disorder Symptoms

• Insomnia
• Anxiety
• Weight loss
• Poor eating habits
• Increased / decreased sex drive
• Agitation
• Irritability

Reverse Seasonal Adjustment Disorder Symptoms

• Rapid thoughts and speech
• Elevated mood
• Agitation
• Increased socializing
• Being hyperactive
• Uncontrolled enthusiasm

Causes of Seasonal Adjustment Disorder

The exact cause of why seasonal affective disorder occurs in some people only and not others, is still unknown. However, the condition can be associated with many factors that could be held responsible like the genetic factors, age factor and also the body's reaction towards the seasonal changes. These are explained as under.

• Circadian Rhythm: The circadian rhythm can also be referred to as our body's internal clock! Studies show that the effect of reduced sunlight, which is common in winters, disrupts our biological clock, which leads to depression and mood swings.
• Serotonin Levels: Reduction of serotonin levels in the brain also leads to lethargy and depressed moods. Reduction in sunlight also triggers in reduced serotonin levels.
• Melatonin Levels: Melatonin levels have strong effect on your moods and sleeping patterns. This hormone is secreted by the pineal gland which is directly connected to the retina. Darkness increases the production of melatonin and can lead to moody behavior and oversleeping!

Treatment Guidelines for Seasonal Adjustment Disorder

As mentioned earlier, seasonal adjustment disorder is a kind of depressive disorder. In order to diagnose this disorder, the following criteria spelled in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) must be met.

• The patient must have experienced depression along with other SAD symptoms for a minimum of 2 consecutive years, during the same season in both the years.
• The time period or the season when the patient suffers from depression, must be followed by periods when the patient is not depressed. Meaning, as soon as the season changes, the depression should also go.
• Apart from the seasonal changes, there should be no other reason for the person to show changes in his/her mood or behavior.

Once the aforementioned criteria has been met, the patient is given various treatments and medications in order to deal with the seasonal adjustment disorder, which includes the following.

• Light Therapy: As you might have noticed in the causes, lack of light affects the production of many hormones in the body like the melatonin and serotonin. Also known as photo therapy, light therapy consists of a technique wherein there is a specialized light box with bright white light, to which the patient is exposed for 30-60 minutes. Although, studies show that exposing the patient to green light is much more helpful than white light. This therapy also has some side effects, so you must consult with your health care specialist before you go ahead with it.
• Psychotherapy: This therapy helps in identifying the negative moods and thoughts that SAD leads to. Psychotherapy also helps the patient cope up to the seasonal changes in a healthy and better way!
• Negative Air Ionization Therapy: This therapy is used with light therapy wherein this therapy helps in supplementing the thin winter ion supply and mimics summer like conditions.
• Medications: SAD medications include antidepressants including Bupropion, Paroxetine, Zoloft, Prozac, etc. However, it is strictly advised to consult with your health care specialist before going further with the medications and therapies.

Seasonal adjustment disorder may also be cured with some alternative treatments like yoga, acupuncture, medicinal herbs like St. John's Wort, Omega 3 essential fatty acids, etc. Even massage therapy and meditation helps in overcoming this disorder. The key is to stay as active and social as possible so that there is no room for sadness and depression in your life. Just stick to your treatment plan and take care of yourself. All the best!