Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a mental health condition where different weather changes can bring on depression or mania. Most commonly, SAD occurs in individuals that live in climates where winter seasons and lack of sunlight impact mood but can occur at the change of any season, including spring or summer.
Biological Factors that Influence SAD
One of the most significant changes that come along with a new season is a shift in sunlight. The sun can play a role in the amount of sleep we get, and when sleep patterns change, there can be severe repercussions. Circadian rhythm refers to our “internal clock” and is most easily described as biologically engrained sleep patterns. When your circadian rhythm is disrupted or undergoes a sudden change, it can impact mood and other bodily functions.
You may notice that when seasons change, you feel sluggish or less motivated or conversely, you may feel an elevated mood and more energy. The amount of sunlight we receive can also influence our bodies’ production of serotonin. Serotonin is a hormone related to happiness and mental stability. Less sunlight means serotonin levels may decrease, leading to depression, and more sunlight can increase serotonin levels and lead to mania.
Environmental Factors that Influence SAD
A change in the seasons, particularly when entering the colder months, can limit the number of activities that we can do. Winter often results in less going out, which not only can lead to boredom but limits our access to sunlight even more. Staying busy, having fun, and engaging in stimulating activities increases happiness and aids our bodies in producing hormones that affect mood.
A lack of going outside can also impede our ability to socialize with others which can create feelings of isolation while also separating us from people who may help us regulate our emotions. When homebound due to snow or cold, we sometimes have to get creative to keep ourselves busy and spend time with friends and loved ones. We can do this by engaging in new hobbies, having remote hangouts using video calls, or turning to classic winter activities like sledding or sitting by a warm fire. Rearranging furniture can also be a simple way to keep depression at bay. Refreshing our surroundings can often give us a new sense of motivation and act as a catalyst for other positive changes.
Seasonal Changes and Trauma
Weather also can impact mood when we have strong associations between specific seasons and trauma. When weather triggers post-traumatic stress, it can be difficult to notice. You may have a sudden increase in your depression and anxiety without recognizing that these changes are linked to trauma triggered by the weather.
The best way to treat trauma is through therapy, and even if you don’t notice the weather as a trigger, your therapist may be able to. Addressing trauma at its root also allows us to manage it better regardless of what may bring it on.
Being hospitalized or losing a loved one during a particular time of the year are examples of how trauma can be associated with seasonal changes. If you notice that your depression or mania comes on suddenly, take a look at when those changes occur and whether or not they are cyclical. Understanding patterns in our mood changes can help treatment go smoother and be more effective.
SAD for Individuals with Bipolar Disorder
Struggling with bipolar disorder can already be a rollercoaster, and if SAD also impacts you, the instability can become even more pronounced. Those with bipolar typically have an imbalance in the different hormones that affect mood, and when the seasons change, these imbalances can become more pronounced. Increased sunlight during the warmer months can encourage the body to produce more serotonin than needed and trigger manic episodes. While mood may be elevated during mania, it’s also very dangerous to leave mania untreated. Manic episodes can cause us to make rash and harmful decisions that we wouldn’t make under normal circumstances, such as stealing or using substances.
Decreased amounts of sunlight can negatively affect people without bipolar, but for those who have bipolar, these effects can be more pronounced. With a more intense period of depression, someone with bipolar may also develop suicidal thoughts. To manage these seasonal changes, your doctor may suggest medication changes to better fit the specific needs that come with SAD.
How Changes in Weather Influence Addiction
Mental illness might be one of the root causes of addiction, and SAD is no exception. If feelings of depression or mania lead us to substance abuse, having sudden changes or onsets of these feelings can make us even more prone to using. Not understanding where the depression comes from or being able to prepare for it can make using seem like the only option.
Trauma anniversaries associated can trigger us to begin using again or increase the amount of our using. Being more inclined to use substances during a specific time of the year may mean increased treatment during these times and more effort to avoid substances. Continuing to address mental health issues consistently is crucial to recovery—meaning keeping up with appointments and regularly taking any prescribed medications.
Weather changes can bring on mood fluctuations, including seasonal affective disorder (SAD). When depression or bipolar are brought on suddenly by changing seasons, this can cause increased levels of stress that can potentially lead to substance abuse, relapse, or increased use of substances. For those struggling with addiction, treatment is the most effective way to enter recovery. If you seek treatment, call Rancho Milagro at (951) 526-4582 to learn more about our treatment center. Rancho Milagro offers inpatient care as well as a detox for those who qualify. At Rancho Milagro, you will find many different therapy options, including art, massage, nature, and animal therapy. Our compassionate team is committed to your recovery and will create a specialized treatment plan to fit your personal needs. We believe in treating the whole person—mind, body, and spirit—and receiving treatment with us means that you will leave with the skills you need to continue on your journey of recovery.