Winter blues, seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and depression are a continuum based on how severe a person’s ability is to function. Winter blues consists of decreased energy, irritability, increased desire to sleep, and reduced interest in social activities. SAD is more related to the time of year. In most cases the episodes begin in fall or winter and remit in spring. Symptoms may include sleeping too much, overeating, weight gain, and craving carbohydrates.
Clinical depression is the severest form and its cluster of symptoms last much longer than the winter blues or SAD. Symptoms can include but are not limited to: mood changes (sadness, intense irritability, feeling easily frustrated); low self-esteem (feelings of worthlessness, lack of self-confidence); extreme negative thinking, including pessimism, a bleak view of the future; thoughts of hopelessness, thoughts about suicide, brooding, worrying and fretting. There is also often a marked change in physical functioning including: sleep disturbances, fatigue, loss of sex drive, and a change in appetite and weight.
Do you need help?
If your depression is seriously interfering with work, school, or significant personal relationships, or there are marked changes in physical/biological functions, you should seek professional counseling. Other red flags include alcohol or drug use that has been escalating or is hard to control, or if you have been experiencing serious thoughts about self-harm or suicide. A general rule of thumb: if self-help approaches are pursued for more than one month and you fail to see noticeable improvements in depressive symptoms, it’s time to seek professional counsel.
