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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staffSeasonal affective disorder is a cyclic, seasonal condition. This means that signs and symptoms come back and go away at the same time every year. Usually, seasonal affective disorder symptoms appear during late fall or early winter and go away during the sunnier days of spring and summer. Some people have the opposite pattern and become depressed with the onset of spring or summer. In either case, problems may start out mild and become more severe as the season progresses.
Fall and winter seasonal affective disorder (winter depression)
Winter-onset seasonal affective disorder symptoms include:
- Depression
- Hopelessness
- Anxiety
- Loss of energy
- Social withdrawal
- Oversleeping
- Loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed
- Appetite changes, especially a craving for foods high in carbohydrates
- Weight gain
- Difficulty concentrating and processing information
Spring and summer seasonal affective disorder (summer depression)
Summer-onset seasonal affective disorder symptoms include:
- Anxiety
- Trouble sleeping (insomnia)
- Irritability
- Agitation
- Weight loss
- Poor appetite
- Increased sex drive
Reverse seasonal affective disorder
In some people, spring and summer can bring on symptoms of mania or a less intense form of mania (hypomania). These can include elevated mood, agitation, and rapid thoughts and speech. Reverse seasonal affective disorder is a form of bipolar disorder.
Signs and symptoms of reverse seasonal affective disorder include:
- Persistently elevated mood
- Increased social activity
- Hyperactivity
- Unbridled enthusiasm out of proportion to the situation
When to see a doctor
It's normal to have some days when you feel down. But if you feel down for days at a time and you can't seem to get motivated to do activities you normally enjoy, see your doctor. This is particularly important if you notice that your sleep patterns and appetite have changed or if you feel hopeless, think about suicide, or find yourself turning to alcohol for comfort or relaxation.
- Saeed SA, et al. Seasonal affective disorder. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 28, 2009.
- Seasonal pattern specifier. In: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV-TR. 4th ed. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Association; 2000. http://www.psychiatryonline.com. Accessed Oct. 31, 2009.
- Ravindran AV, et al. Complementary and alternative medicine treatments. Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments (CANMAT) clinical guidelines for the management of major depressive disorder in adults. Journal of Affective Disorders. 2009;117:S54.
- Sarris J, et al. Kava and St. John's wort: Current evidence for use in mood and anxiety disorders. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2009;15:827.
- Hall-Flavin DK (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester Minn. Oct. 31, 2009.
