Young Adults Are More Likely to Develop Seasonal Affective Disorder

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January. The excitement of the holidays is over. It’s time to return to your college classes after a nice, long break. For those in northern climates, there’s also less sunlight and painfully cold temperatures to contend with. It’s completely normal to feel a little bummed out about it all, right?

In most cases, yes, it is normal to feel a little “blah” during the winter months. But, if those feelings seem to be having a negative impact on your ability to complete your day-to-day responsibilities and your desire to get out of your house or dorm room and hang out with others, you may be experiencing Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, is a type of clinical depression that strikes people in the fall and winter months. Like other types of depression, SAD often results in fatigue, loss of interest in daily activities, anxiety, overeating, alcohol and/or substance misuse, sleep disruptions, and difficulty concentrating.

Who Is Most Likely to Develop SAD?

Some evidence indicates that SAD is most likely to occur in young adults in their late teens and early twenties. Though no one is exactly sure why it may be due in part to the fact that many young adults have a lifestyle that is not conducive to a regular sleep schedule.

They often have college class schedules and jobs that require them to study or work outside of the typical 9 to 5 schedule of older adults. Young adults also sometimes struggle with the additional stress that comes with uncertainty and instability. They are typically in a stage where they are sorting out what they want to do with their lives, striving to become financially stable, and trying to determine what they want and need from romantic relationships.

SAD is most prevalent among women, and among those who have a predisposition for depression. This would include those who have a family history of depression, or who have experienced other types of depression—like major, chronic, or manic depression.

SAD Can Develop Into Something More Serious

Seasonal Affective Disorder typically comes and goes with the seasons. But, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you should just ignore it until it passes. It’s normal to have a few days here and there when you feel a little blue and unmotivated. It’s not normal to experience more profound depressive symptoms—loss of interest or pleasure in everything, lethargy, feelings of guilt or worthlessness—for weeks on end. If these lingering and more serious symptoms are left untreated, they can lead to a major depressive episode that extends beyond the winter months.

Treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder

If you find yourself in a funk during the winter season and are unable to lift yourself out of it, it may be time for you to see a doctor and/or counselor. They can help to determine whether what you are experiencing is likely a seasonal disorder, or something potentially long-term and concerning. Phototherapy, or bright light therapy, antidepressant medications, and cognitive behavioral therapy are all commonly recommended for more severe cases of SAD. For more manageable cases, a temporary escape from your frozen landscape to a more tropical climate can work wonders, of course! But, if a vacation isn’t in the cards for you, exercising more, meditating, and bundling up to spend more time outside can also be beneficial.

Whatever you do, resist the urge to just do nothing. If left unacknowledged, the signs of SAD can have negative effects on your academic performance and on your social life that last far beyond the symptoms themselves. Mental health services are typically accessible and affordable on most college campuses, and there’s no shame in asking for help.

Treatment for Depression

If you, along with your doctor and/or counselor determine that you are struggling with something more serious than Seasonal Affective Disorder, or if you are having suicidal thoughts, you may require inpatient or intensive outpatient treatment. The Claudia Black Young Adult Center’s inpatient and comprehensive outpatient programs specialize in treating mental health disorders like depression in a way that specifically meets the needs of individuals aged 18 – 26. If you’re wondering whether we can help you or a loved one, don’t hesitate to call us at 866-442-5305 or send us an email.