Dealing with Seasonal Affective Disorder In Monsoon

What is SAD?

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a form of depression that occurs seasonally. While it typically affects people in winter, it can also arise during the monsoon season. This condition can cause moodiness and a lack of energy, recurring predictably each year.

According to the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, women are more prone to SAD symptoms than men. The symptoms usually start showing once people cross their 20s.

Symptoms of SAD Syndrome

According to experts, the most common seasonal depression symptoms during monsoon are:

• Feeling confused/empty throughout the day, every day (at least for a continuous 15 days)

• Not wanting to do the activities/things that you used to enjoy before

• A severe drop in energy levels and continuous feeling of tiredness

• Extreme sense of frustration and crankiness

• Inability to sleep properly

• Unusual patterns of eating

• Physical pain, especially headache and digestive issues that continue to persist despite undergoing treatment for the same

• Inability to focus or concentrate

• Reduced memory power and decision-making skills

• Gradually withdrawing from one’s social circle

• Losing all hope and self-worth

• Developing suicidal tendencies

Causes of SAD Syndrome

The following could trigger this type of mental health condition:

• Irregularities in one’s biological clock –

During monsoon people are not exposed to sunlight. The lack of sunlight can cause chemical changes or imbalances in the brain and increase the risk of depression.

• Decreased serotonin –

When the body is deprived of sunlight, it can cause the serotonin levels (a neurotransmitter that sends signals to the brain) to drop drastically. Serotonin helps in regulating one’s mood. So, when there is a drop in serotonin, it can increase the risk of SAD during the monsoons.

• Imbalances in melatonin –

Melatonin hormones regulate one’s sleep patterns. Sleeping too little or too much can lead to imbalances in mental health.

Why are symptoms more common in monsoon?

While you may enjoy the rains initially, it may become a cause of concern when it rains incessantly. Here is how monsoon plays an important role in triggering the symptoms of SAD:

• Lack of sunlight during heavy rains makes people feel dull, drowsy, irritated, and agitated, triggering seasonal affective disorder symptoms.

• Incessant rains can hamper the natural circadian rhythm of the human body; this can hugely impact your physical, mental, and emotional health.

• Heavy rains can disrupt daily routines and outdoor activities leading to reduced social interaction and physical activity there by affecting your mental well-being.

• Changes in atmospheric pressure and air quality during the monsoon may also impact mood and energy levels in susceptible individuals.

• According to experts, heavy rains during the monsoon can trigger post-traumatic stress disorders in some people; past trauma of losing loved ones during floods, homes being washed away, and other major disasters can come back to haunt people again, causing them to feel depressed and stressed throughout the season.

Overall, the combination of reduced sunlight, changes in routine, and environmental factors during heavy rains can contribute to an increased prevalence of SAD symptoms.

Who is at risk?

While we all feel a little uncomfortable during monsoon, some people tend to feel sluggish during specific seasons for long periods. The risk factors that impact seasonal affective disorder are:

• Genetic factors –

If your close family member has SAD or any other type of depression, you are more likely to be diagnosed with the same condition.

• Already existing mental condition –

If you have been already showing symptoms of mental ailments like depression and bipolar disorder, seasonal changes can make you feel depressed.

• Location –

If you live towards the extreme north/south of the equator, you are more risky to SAD than others. The seasonal changes are extreme here, with the days being very cold during winters and very hot during summers.

• Low Vitamin D levels –

Sunlight is the best source of Vitamin D. Reduced exposure to sunlight in the monsoon can make people deficient in Vitamin D. This, in turn, can cause imbalances in the activity of serotonin, thereby increasing the risk of SAD.

If you fall under these risk categories, and if you have been experiencing SAD symptoms in the monsoon for more than 2 continuous weeks, you should seek medical help immediately.

Seasonal Affective Disorder Treatments

The most effective treatments for SAD are:

• Light Therapy –

Exposure to a bright source of light daily for about 45 minutes during monsoon

• Psychotherapy –

Talk therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy to introduce lifestyle changes and increase positivity

• Antidepressants –

Usually combined with other therapy treatments to reduce anxiety disorder symptoms