By: Paige Scofield Campus Life Editor
For some, the start of fall and transition into winter is a beloved time of year. But for others, the change in seasons can cause unwanted symptoms known as seasonal affective disorder.
As stated by American Family Physician, SAD affects 4-6 percent of Americans, and 10-20 percent of Americans can have a mild form of seasonal affective disorder. 
According to Mayo Clinic, “Seasonal affective disorder is a type of depression that’s related to changes in seasons – SAD begins and ends at about the same times every year. If you’re like most people with SAD, your symptoms start in the fall and continue into the winter months, sapping your energy and making you feel moody.”
Symptoms can start out mild but can quickly become more intense and excessive. As stated by Mayo Clinic, symptoms can include: irritability, tiredness or low energy, problems getting along with other people, hypersensitivity to rejection, heavy-leaden feeling in the arms or legs, oversleeping, appetite changes, especially a craving for foods high in carbohydrates and weight gain.
Although the cause of seasonal depression is unknown, there has been some speculation of certain factors that might cause some of these symptoms. Those include your biological clock, also known as your circadian rhythm, serotonin levels and melatonin levels.
According to Mayo Clinic, “The reduced level of sunlight in fall and winter may cause winter-onset SAD. This decrease in sunlight may disrupt your body’s internal clock and lead to feelings of depression. A drop in serotonin, a brain chemical or neurotransmitter, that affects mood, might play a role in SAD. Reduced sunlight can cause a drop in serotonin that may trigger depression. The change in season can disrupt the balance of the body’s level of melatonin, which plays a role in sleep patterns and mood.”
Although SAD can affect all, a higher number of women are diagnosed but men may have more severe symptoms. Severity of symptoms are also dependent on the person. Someone who may have a family member with depression is more likely to have SAD. Someone who is diagnosed with depression or bipolar disorder can also have more severe symptoms during fall and winter.
According to American Family Physician, SAD usually affects those who are 20 or older, which is within the age range of students who attend college. If you think you might be suffering from any of these symptoms, Western has a Health and Counseling Center on campus that can help you understand why you have these symptoms and how to cope with them.
Contact the author at journalcampuslife@wou.edu
