Can you get reverse SAD?

Reverse SAD, aka summer SAD, causes people to experience depression symptoms in summer, with symptoms subsiding in fall and winter. It occurs due to excess sun exposure that increases the body’s production of melatonin, a hormone that affects the sleep-wake cycle.

How do I know if I have reverse SAD?

People with regular SAD tend to experience excess sleepiness and gloominess that can vary in intensity, but remain present for as long as the season lasts. In reverse SAD, however, we struggle to sleep enough, and it’s not gloominess but constant aggravation and irritability that we struggle with.

How many people have reverse SAD?

You’ve probably heard about seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, which affects about 4% to 6% of the U.S. population. SAD typically causes depression as the days get shorter and colder. But about 10% of people with SAD get it in the reverse — the onset of summer triggers their depression symptoms.

Is it possible to have reverse seasonal affective disorder?

Reverse seasonal affective disorder affects less than one-tenth of all SAD cases, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. But just like winter-onset SAD, reverse seasonal affective disorder returns every year at about the same time.

Do lights help with SAD?

Light therapy is thought to affect brain chemicals linked to mood and sleep, easing SAD symptoms. Using a light therapy box may also help with other types of depression, sleep disorders and other conditions.

Is there such a thing as seasonal depression?

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) 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.

What causes reverse seasonal affective disorder?

Winter SAD may reflect typical symptoms of depression, but reverse SAD is uniquely characterised by symptoms like insomnia, anxiety, agitation, weight loss, and decreased appetite. Where winter SAD can be attributable to a decrease in light exposure, reverse SAD could be due to an over-exposure of light.

Why do gloomy days make me SAD?

When you don’t get enough sunlight, it can lower the amount of serotonin your body produces, which can negatively affect your mood. Gloomy days can wreak havoc on the melatonin levels in our body making it harder for some people to get up on those dark mornings.

Are vitamin D lamps safe?

Experts advise against using sun lamps for vitamin D production — exposure to UV light increases your skin cancer risk and there are more effective, safer ways to get vitamin D. Instead, take a vitamin D supplement that offers up to 2000 IUs per day.

How can I reduce sadness?

Treatments for SAD

1. lifestyle measures – including getting as much natural sunlight as possible, exercising regularly and managing your stress levels.
2. light therapy – where a special lamp called a light box is used to simulate exposure to sunlight.

Does vitamin D help with seasonal depression?

Low levels of vitamin D, caused by low dietary intake of the vitamin or not enough exposure to sunshine, have been found in people with SAD. However, it’s unclear whether vitamin D supplementation can help to relieve SAD symptoms. Very little research has been done on dietary supplements other than vitamin D for SAD.

What is reverse seasonal affective disorder (SAD)?

You’ve probably heard of seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, where some 20 percent of the population feel more depressed in the winter thanks to less light. Well, there’s also a kind that hits people in the warmer months, called reverse seasonal affective disorder, or summer SAD.

Can reverse SAD be misdiagnosed as depression?

Unfortunately, there are few studies devoted to understanding reverse SAD, likely because it is less well-known than its counterpart. In addition, individuals who might be affected by reverse SAD may be misdiagnosed with major depression, anxiety, or dysthymia.

Do you have summer sad or winter SAD?

Interestingly, summer SAD and winter SAD seem to be prevalent in areas that are particularly prone to warmer summers. In other words, people in the southern U.S. tend to experience summer SAD more than those in the north, and vice versa. Melatonin is a powerful antioxidant and free radical scavenger that serves to protect the brain.