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Are you a caregiver for seniors? Do you feel that a few individuals whom you look after often become moody and melancholy during the winter? Don’t let this go unnoticed, they might be suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD.

What is seasonal affective disorder?

Seasonal affective disorder is a form of depression that occurs at the same time every year – usually around winter and late fall. It is also known as seasonal depression, SAD, or winter depression. Some might suffer from the rare summer depression, a type of seasonal depression beginning early summer or late spring, and ending in fall.

The seasonal affective disorder can change the mood, appetite, sleep, and energy level of a person suffering from it – affecting their social life, relationships, work, home, and their sense of worth. Individuals suffering from SAD might feel like totally different people before and after the onset of depression. SAD can affect people of any age.

Why do people have the seasonal affective disorder?

The exact cause behind seasonal depression is unknown, but doctors attribute hormonal fluctuations, changes in body temperature, and lack of sunlight to the condition.

The circadian rhythm of the body: Scientists believe that the circadian rhythm of the body gets upset by lesser daylight hours. This leads to feeling depressed.

Reduced serotonin and melatonin: Disrupted circadian rhythm imbalances serotonin and melatonin, chemical hormones found in the brain that are responsible for mood and sleeping patterns respectively.

Lower vitamin D levels: Sunlight is the biggest source of vitamin D – the vitamin that plays an important role in maintaining serotonin levels in the body. A deficiency of the vitamin can trigger the onset of SAD.

Does seasonal affective disorder get worse with age?

About 4-6% of people in US suffer from seasonal depression. It is more common in women than in men. While people of any age can be diagnosed with SAD, it is particularly prevalent among seniors. Especially those who have chronic conditions that get aggravated by cold weather, or those who are homebound. It is more common in seniors who live far from the equator in places that have fewer daylight hours in winter.

SAD should not be taken lightly. The symptoms can be overwhelming, impairing the day to day functioning of your loved ones. If you have loved one at home or are a caregiver for seniors and you experience them suddenly gaining weight, socially withdrawing, sleepier, and lethargic, they might be experiencing the seasonal affective disorder.

What are the symptoms of the seasonal affective disorder?

Not everyone who has seasonal depression shows the same symptoms. However, there are a few common ones for winter-onset SAD:

• Change in appetite
• Fatigue
• Struggle to concentrate
• More sleep than normal
• Anxiety and irritability
• Loss of interest in everyday chores
• Feelings of despair, hopelessness, and guilt
• Physical manifestations in the form of headaches

Some of the common symptoms for summer-onset SAD are:

• Loss of appetite
• Insomnia
• Weight loss
• Agitation
• Irritability and anxiety

The worst part is, seasonal depression comes back every year, around the same time. It usually lasts about 40% of the year. However, the good news is, SAD can be treated.

Diagnosis

If your loved ones are showing some symptoms mentioned above, take them to a doctor for assessment. During the assessment, the doctor will discuss their thoughts, feelings, symptoms, and behavior. In some cases, they might even request lab tests to eliminate other conditions with similar symptoms. Post this, they will recommend the right treatment or might even refer your loved ones to a specialist psychiatrist or psychologist.

What is the best treatment for seasonal affective disorder?

SAD can be treated effectively with light therapy, talk therapy, antidepressant medications, or a combination of these.

Exposure to sunlight:

In some cases, exposure to more sunlight can help lift off the seasonal affective disorder. If you have an elderly care program, you can arrange for seniors to spend more time outside or maybe shifting them in a room that receives more sunlight during the day. If these measures are coupled with regular exercise, healthy eating, enough sleep, and ample activity, your loved ones will recuperate quickly.

Light therapy:

This involves sitting in front of a light therapy box for about 20 minutes a day. The box emits very bright light and most people start seeing improvements within a week or two. The therapy is continued throughout winter to keep up benefits and prevent relapse.

Talk therapy:

Talk therapy, especially cognitive behavior therapy, can effectively treat seasonal depression. Some of the common antidepressants prescribed are Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs).

If you are a caregiver for seniors and see these symptoms, seek professional help. Seasonal depression can be misdiagnosed as viral infections, hypothyroidism, or hypoglycemia, so proper evaluation is vital. If the depression is severe with suicidal thoughts, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 800-273-8255 (TALK).