Seasonal Affective Disorder Is More Than Just A Case Of The Winter Blues

Colder days and darker evenings can leave you with a case of the winter blues, but when does it become more serious…

Despite relatively good weather all year round, a growing number of Australians are reporting a downturn in their mood during the winter months. While we all get a case of the ‘winter blues’ now and again, at what point does it go from just feeling a bit flat to a case of Seasonal Affective Disorder?

A Fine Line

SAD, as it is commonly known, is a medical condition in which individuals experience prolonged periods of depression during the winter months each year. Greg Murray, professor of psychology at Swinburne University, says that the condition is different to the common downturn in mood people often experience as the weather gets colder.

“Most of us want to sleep more, put on a bit more weight, are attracted to fatty foods, so there are some biological mechanisms that predispose us to being a little less motivated in winter than at other times of the year,” he said. “If your mood is having a marked impact on your ability to function or impacts your thoughts and feelings about self, seek help.”

Professor Murray says that only 1 in 300 Australians will be diagnosed with SAD, requiring cognitive behavioural therapy, bright light treatment or medication to help them overcome the condition.

Waiting It Out

Some sceptics have argued that Seasonal Affective Disorder is not a legitimate disorder, and that people who experience a recurring downturn in their mood during winter should ‘wait it out’, but Professor Murray says that any form of depression requires intervention. “Depression, by definition, if it is at a diagnosable level, is where our system has adopted an unusual orientation and maybe we no longer have access to those constructive thoughts and behaviours that would normally see us through,” he said.

Professor Murray said that winter tends to make exercising regularly and socialising with friends more difficult, which could also contribute to periods of low mood, so prioritising these activities as part of your routine could go a long way to improving your mental health.

Winter can make everything just that little bit harder so remember to be kind to yourself – a warm bath, a strong cup of tea and a good book can make even the darkest evening a little brighter.

Do you find yourself feeling a little down during the winter months? Let us know in the comments.

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18 Comments

- - Sarah said
  - 07 Jun 2019
    4:12 pm
I have clinical depression & have had for ten+ years. However, it is managed. During the winter though for as long as I can remember, my moods just take a dive & are much harder to improve. It’s wonderful to see an acknowledgement of this & research being done into it!

- - Mum2archer said
  - 31 May 2019
    11:03 pm
I always feel more unhappy in winter, and I think thats due to less time being able to be spent outside exercising or just enjoying the sun. I can understand how this can really affect some people

- - nealsq said
  - 31 May 2019
    9:53 pm
I love winter, I love tracky pants and cardies, love the change in season

- - mom101628 said
  - 23 May 2019
    10:14 pm
Sun, fresh air and exercise has always helped me whenever I felt a little down – attune to nature and you will always feel so much better.

- - Ellen said
  - 22 May 2019
    8:00 am
For those who suffer this light therapy and tanning bed sessions can really help as the light and warmth really effects the mood.

- - mom303889 said
  - 22 May 2019
    3:20 am
I dun like winter either. Feels like hiding under my blanket and sleep forever if i dun need to eat or work. And now with kids its even harder cause they always wake up in the coldest hour!

- - becstalou said
  - 21 May 2019
    11:34 am
It’s pretty mild where we live so I don’t think it’s a problem there but definitely in really cold places it could be very isolating.

- - Carly said
  - 21 May 2019
    11:15 am
my Husband finds it very hard in the Winter, cold and dark and he is much more moody, sad, distempered and much harder to live with lol

- - BellaB said
  - 21 May 2019
    10:30 am
Yeah, winter is always a bit harder for me.

- - Ellen said
  - 21 May 2019
    4:10 am
We haven’t very cold winters here in Australia. Growing up in the Netherlands we had sometimes night temperatures from -15 and day temperatures of -2 C.
Mind you, I didn’t drive a car and biked everything in rain, wind, snow and ice. Left the Netherlands when I was 38yrs old. And then lived for 8yrs in Northern Ireland. Although the winters weren’t as cold as in the Netherlands, it was the lack of summer / sun what hit me there./ The continuous cloudy grey rainy days and lack of sun made me really feel down. The summers there are most of the time about the same temperatures of our winter…
Moving to Oz was really good for me, I love the summer !

- - youngoldlady said
  - 20 May 2019
    11:09 pm
I think it is a real thing and effects some people really bad. Cold weather can make it hard to get out as some times it is the wet season too.

- - mom265671 said
  - 20 May 2019
    10:50 pm
Ooh never heard of this before

- - AmbieBambi said
  - 20 May 2019
    8:38 pm
Yes! Although I get it when it’s hot too, soo…
but I definitely keep up the hot drinks through the day in winter!

- - mom350461 said
  - 20 May 2019
    7:33 pm
Only when I start putting on winter weight.

- - ashna9 said
  - 20 May 2019
    7:09 pm
I quite enjoy winter and the cooler months.

- - mom81879 said
  - 20 May 2019
    6:58 pm
Not really. My SAD seems to cover all the seasons, to an extent. Isn’t that life, happy sad, high low, good bad

- - mom206279 said
  - 20 May 2019
    6:07 pm
I just call it my winter hibernation. I get so tired that I pretty much just do nothing until the end of August unless I have to. I’m definitely solar powered.
- Blossom replied
  
  20 May 2019 , 10:20 pm
  I am solar powered too. I don’t like going out in cold windy damp weather. Even if I put extra warm clothes on sometimes when I go for a walk it feels to me like the wind is going straight through them. in the warm-hot weather I usually walk in the morning before it starts to get hot. I don’t often go at night because of dishonest violent people in the area.