How many people deal with seasonal affective disorder?

If you suffer from these symptoms, you may have seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of depression related to changes in the seasons. SAD affects an estimated 10 million Americans, with women four times more likely to be diagnosed with it than men.

How do you deal with weather depression?

A daily walk does wonders for boosting your mood. So bundle up or pull on some rain boots and get out there. The exercise releases endorphins, chemicals that spark a positive or euphoric feeling in the body. For a better start to the day, get outside within a couple hours of waking up.

Does weather have an effect on depression?

Many people get cranky when it is too hot, or too humid, but perhaps even more people’s depression is affected by the weather with a condition often called “SAD” or “Seasonal Affective Disorder,” also known as “Winter Depression” or “Winter Blues.” If you suffer from SAD, lack of sunlight during the day, or the change …

What kind of weather makes you feel depressing?

Rainy days are most often known to contribute to depression and sadness. This is due to the dip in serotonin levels caused by lack of sunshine. The dip in serotonin levels also contributes to food cravings for comfort foods and carbohydrates because they boost serotonin levels.

What percentage of the world has seasonal depression?

Seasonal affective disorder occurs in 0.5 to 3 percent of individuals in the general population; it affects 10 to 20 percent of people with major depressive disorder and about 25 percent of people with bipolar disorder.

Is seasonal affective disorder real?

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 vitamin helps with seasonal depression?

Vitamin B-3 and Vitamin B-9 can help people with depression because B vitamins help the brain manage moods. Vitamin D, melatonin and St. John’s Wort are recommended for seasonal depression.

How do you deal with gloomy weather?

Get yourself outside!

1. Daily walk and exercise can boost your mood.
2. Exercise releases endorphins, chemicals that create a positive or euphoric feeling in the body.
3. Make sure to get morning sunlight exposure to keep a regulated internal clock.

Why does gloomy weather make you depressed?

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.

Can gloomy weather affect your mood?

If you feel down during a downpour, it’s not your imagination: Bad weather can indeed have a negative effect on your emotions. According to one study, nearly 9 percent of people fall into the “rain haters” category. This group feels angrier and less happy on days with more precipitation.

Does SAD run in families?

Studies show that 25 to 67 percent of people with seasonal affective disorder have one or more relatives with such a disorder. These other disorders may run in families in part because they share some genetic risk factors with seasonal affective disorder.

Why are some people more depressed in the winter?

Many things, including brain chemicals, ions in the air, and genetics seem to be involved. But researchers agree that people who suffer from winter depression — also known as ” seasonal affective disorder ,” a term that produces the cute acronym SAD — have one thing in common. They’re particularly sensitive to light, or the lack of it.

How to fight off gloomy-weather depression?

Easy habits to fight off gloomy-weather depression. Low amounts of sunlight may trigger a reduction in serotonin, which can affect your mood, Yeager says. Gray days also can wreak havoc on the body’s melatonin levels, making it harder for some people to get started on dark mornings.

Do rainy days really get you down?

The Verdict: Yep, rainy days really can get you down. If you feel down during a downpour, it’s not your imagination: Bad weather can indeed have a negative effect on your emotions.

What is seasonal depression called?

Seasonal Depression. More than just “the winter blues,” seasonal depression, often called seasonal affective disorder (SAD), occurs at the same time each year. Fortunately, treatment is available.