What to know about seasonal affective disorder

As the air gets colder and the sun goes down earlier, some people find themselves less inclined to complete their daily tasks. Although it is normal to feel a bit more bummed than usual during these months, it’s imperative to know the difference between being in a funk and having a disorder, experts say. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a form of depression that happens during periods of less sunlight and shorter days, according to John Hopkins Medicine. The disorder is linked to a “chemical change in the brain” and usually results in the body making more melatonin, the sleep hormone, because it’s dark outside earlier.
Due to fewer hours of sunlight, a person’s internal clock might be thrown off during winter-onset seasonal affective disorder, according to Mayo Clinic. Levels of melatonin are disrupted in the body, changing sleep patterns, and levels of serotonin, the hormone that affects mood, drop.
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