More than the winter blues: understanding Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Hazel Editorial Team

Editorial Team

With changing seasons and shorter days, some people might experience mood and behavior changes that affect how they feel, think, and handle daily activities. For some, the transition to fall and winter contribute to mood changes, like sadness, hopelessness, lethargy, and other symptoms. Though generally diagnosed in adults, teens can also experience seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
‍

What is Seasonal Affective Disorder?

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), more commonly known as seasonal depression, causes annual depressive episodes at the same time each year, typically in the winter months. Seasonal depression is spurred by the brain’s response to shorter daylight hours–the reduced sunlight in wintertime can affect serotonin and melatonin levels, which are responsible for regulating energy, mood, and sleep cycles. When the daylight hours grow longer again, SAD typically lifts, and the individual starts to feel better.

Signs of SAD

SAD symptoms range from mild to severe. There are a variety of symptoms, that may or may not manifest in an individual with SAD:

Sadness or irritability
Low energy
Changes in eating or sleeping habits
Difficulty concentrating
Social withdrawal
Feeling hopeless or worthless
Self-criticism
Suicidal thoughts or engaging in self-harm

While more prevalent in adults, some teenagers do suffer from SAD. A teenager experiencing SAD symptoms might experience changes in their mood, negative thinking that is more self-critical, lack of enjoyment in daily activities, social withdrawal, low energy and lethargy, difficulty sleeping, trouble concentration, and changes in their eating habits. Fatigue, challenges in school, and social withdrawal are the top 3 indicators to look for if you think your teen may suffer from SAD.

Navigating your teen's seasonal depression

If your teen is diagnosed with SAD, your primary care provider might recommend one of the following interventions:

Therapy: talking with a therapist can help your teen relieve and understand the symptoms they are experiencing. A therapist can help your teen develop coping strategies that they can rely on, and can help ease the isolation and loneliness that your teen might be feeling.
Physical activity and vitamin D: exercise and physical activity can improve your teen’s mood, while also contributing to better sleep. Encourage your child to spend time outdoors–daily walks and outdoor exercise are great options that can help relieve seasonal depression.
Light therapy: phototherapy involves a lightbox mimicking sunlight–the person sits in front of the light for a short period daily. This method can improve symptoms within weeks, depending on the intensity. It’s important to talk with a doctor before incorporating phototherapy. ‍
Prescription medication(s): Because SAD causes an imbalance in serotonin, antidepressant medications are often used to treat symptoms. Talk with your doctor if you think your teen would benefit from medicine.

Hazel Health is here to help

Hazel can help you better understand and support your child’s health. Our mental health services and licensed therapists help teens develop coping strategies for their mental health challenges. See if Hazel is available in your school.

If you suspect your teen or someone you know is suffering from immediate distress or engaging in self-harm, call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline toll-free at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or text the Crisis Text Line (HELLO to 741741).

Hazel Editorial Team

Editorial Team

With changing seasons and shorter days, some people might experience mood and behavior changes that affect how they feel, think, and handle daily activities. For some, the transition to fall and winter contribute to mood changes, like sadness, hopelessness, lethargy, and other symptoms. Though generally diagnosed in adults, teens can also experience seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
‍

What is Seasonal Affective Disorder?

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), more commonly known as seasonal depression, causes annual depressive episodes at the same time each year, typically in the winter months. Seasonal depression is spurred by the brain’s response to shorter daylight hours–the reduced sunlight in wintertime can affect serotonin and melatonin levels, which are responsible for regulating energy, mood, and sleep cycles. When the daylight hours grow longer again, SAD typically lifts, and the individual starts to feel better.

Signs of SAD

SAD symptoms range from mild to severe. There are a variety of symptoms, that may or may not manifest in an individual with SAD:

Sadness or irritability
Low energy
Changes in eating or sleeping habits
Difficulty concentrating
Social withdrawal
Feeling hopeless or worthless
Self-criticism
Suicidal thoughts or engaging in self-harm

While more prevalent in adults, some teenagers do suffer from SAD. A teenager experiencing SAD symptoms might experience changes in their mood, negative thinking that is more self-critical, lack of enjoyment in daily activities, social withdrawal, low energy and lethargy, difficulty sleeping, trouble concentration, and changes in their eating habits. Fatigue, challenges in school, and social withdrawal are the top 3 indicators to look for if you think your teen may suffer from SAD.

Navigating your teen's seasonal depression

If your teen is diagnosed with SAD, your primary care provider might recommend one of the following interventions:

Therapy: talking with a therapist can help your teen relieve and understand the symptoms they are experiencing. A therapist can help your teen develop coping strategies that they can rely on, and can help ease the isolation and loneliness that your teen might be feeling.
Physical activity and vitamin D: exercise and physical activity can improve your teen’s mood, while also contributing to better sleep. Encourage your child to spend time outdoors–daily walks and outdoor exercise are great options that can help relieve seasonal depression.
Light therapy: phototherapy involves a lightbox mimicking sunlight–the person sits in front of the light for a short period daily. This method can improve symptoms within weeks, depending on the intensity. It’s important to talk with a doctor before incorporating phototherapy. ‍
Prescription medication(s): Because SAD causes an imbalance in serotonin, antidepressant medications are often used to treat symptoms. Talk with your doctor if you think your teen would benefit from medicine.

Hazel Health is here to help

Hazel can help you better understand and support your child’s health. Our mental health services and licensed therapists help teens develop coping strategies for their mental health challenges. See if Hazel is available in your school.

If you suspect your teen or someone you know is suffering from immediate distress or engaging in self-harm, call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline toll-free at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or text the Crisis Text Line (HELLO to 741741).

Hazel Editorial Team

Editorial Team

With changing seasons and shorter days, some people might experience mood and behavior changes that affect how they feel, think, and handle daily activities. For some, the transition to fall and winter contribute to mood changes, like sadness, hopelessness, lethargy, and other symptoms. Though generally diagnosed in adults, teens can also experience seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
‍

What is Seasonal Affective Disorder?

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), more commonly known as seasonal depression, causes annual depressive episodes at the same time each year, typically in the winter months. Seasonal depression is spurred by the brain’s response to shorter daylight hours–the reduced sunlight in wintertime can affect serotonin and melatonin levels, which are responsible for regulating energy, mood, and sleep cycles. When the daylight hours grow longer again, SAD typically lifts, and the individual starts to feel better.

Signs of SAD

SAD symptoms range from mild to severe. There are a variety of symptoms, that may or may not manifest in an individual with SAD:

Sadness or irritability
Low energy
Changes in eating or sleeping habits
Difficulty concentrating
Social withdrawal
Feeling hopeless or worthless
Self-criticism
Suicidal thoughts or engaging in self-harm

While more prevalent in adults, some teenagers do suffer from SAD. A teenager experiencing SAD symptoms might experience changes in their mood, negative thinking that is more self-critical, lack of enjoyment in daily activities, social withdrawal, low energy and lethargy, difficulty sleeping, trouble concentration, and changes in their eating habits. Fatigue, challenges in school, and social withdrawal are the top 3 indicators to look for if you think your teen may suffer from SAD.

Navigating your teen's seasonal depression

If your teen is diagnosed with SAD, your primary care provider might recommend one of the following interventions:

Therapy: talking with a therapist can help your teen relieve and understand the symptoms they are experiencing. A therapist can help your teen develop coping strategies that they can rely on, and can help ease the isolation and loneliness that your teen might be feeling.
Physical activity and vitamin D: exercise and physical activity can improve your teen’s mood, while also contributing to better sleep. Encourage your child to spend time outdoors–daily walks and outdoor exercise are great options that can help relieve seasonal depression.
Light therapy: phototherapy involves a lightbox mimicking sunlight–the person sits in front of the light for a short period daily. This method can improve symptoms within weeks, depending on the intensity. It’s important to talk with a doctor before incorporating phototherapy. ‍
Prescription medication(s): Because SAD causes an imbalance in serotonin, antidepressant medications are often used to treat symptoms. Talk with your doctor if you think your teen would benefit from medicine.

Hazel Health is here to help

Hazel can help you better understand and support your child’s health. Our mental health services and licensed therapists help teens develop coping strategies for their mental health challenges. See if Hazel is available in your school.

If you suspect your teen or someone you know is suffering from immediate distress or engaging in self-harm, call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline toll-free at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or text the Crisis Text Line (HELLO to 741741).

With changing seasons and shorter days, some people might experience mood and behavior changes that affect how they feel, think, and handle daily activities. For some, the transition to fall and winter contribute to mood changes, like sadness, hopelessness, lethargy, and other symptoms. Though generally diagnosed in adults, teens can also experience seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
‍

What is Seasonal Affective Disorder?

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), more commonly known as seasonal depression, causes annual depressive episodes at the same time each year, typically in the winter months. Seasonal depression is spurred by the brain’s response to shorter daylight hours–the reduced sunlight in wintertime can affect serotonin and melatonin levels, which are responsible for regulating energy, mood, and sleep cycles. When the daylight hours grow longer again, SAD typically lifts, and the individual starts to feel better.

Signs of SAD

SAD symptoms range from mild to severe. There are a variety of symptoms, that may or may not manifest in an individual with SAD:

Sadness or irritability
Low energy
Changes in eating or sleeping habits
Difficulty concentrating
Social withdrawal
Feeling hopeless or worthless
Self-criticism
Suicidal thoughts or engaging in self-harm

While more prevalent in adults, some teenagers do suffer from SAD. A teenager experiencing SAD symptoms might experience changes in their mood, negative thinking that is more self-critical, lack of enjoyment in daily activities, social withdrawal, low energy and lethargy, difficulty sleeping, trouble concentration, and changes in their eating habits. Fatigue, challenges in school, and social withdrawal are the top 3 indicators to look for if you think your teen may suffer from SAD.

Navigating your teen's seasonal depression

If your teen is diagnosed with SAD, your primary care provider might recommend one of the following interventions:

Therapy: talking with a therapist can help your teen relieve and understand the symptoms they are experiencing. A therapist can help your teen develop coping strategies that they can rely on, and can help ease the isolation and loneliness that your teen might be feeling.
Physical activity and vitamin D: exercise and physical activity can improve your teen’s mood, while also contributing to better sleep. Encourage your child to spend time outdoors–daily walks and outdoor exercise are great options that can help relieve seasonal depression.
Light therapy: phototherapy involves a lightbox mimicking sunlight–the person sits in front of the light for a short period daily. This method can improve symptoms within weeks, depending on the intensity. It’s important to talk with a doctor before incorporating phototherapy. ‍
Prescription medication(s): Because SAD causes an imbalance in serotonin, antidepressant medications are often used to treat symptoms. Talk with your doctor if you think your teen would benefit from medicine.

Hazel Health is here to help

Hazel can help you better understand and support your child’s health. Our mental health services and licensed therapists help teens develop coping strategies for their mental health challenges. See if Hazel is available in your school.

If you suspect your teen or someone you know is suffering from immediate distress or engaging in self-harm, call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline toll-free at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or text the Crisis Text Line (HELLO to 741741).

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About Hazel

Hazel Health, the leader in school-based telehealth, partners with school districts to provide mental and physical health services to K-12 students where they are–at school or home. Hazel’s diverse, culturally competent providers specialize in the health challenges of children and teens and partner with parents and school staff to make the best care decisions for students. Hazel is committed to improving health care equity and is available regardless of family income, geography, insurance status, or ability to pay. Hazel’s mission is to transform children’s access to health care, because when students feel better, they learn better.

Learn more at hazel.co.

About Hazel

Hazel Health is the nation’s largest and most trusted provider of school-based telehealth. By partnering with districts and health plans across the country, Hazel transforms schools into the most accessible front door to pediatric healthcare. Today, Hazel’s licensed providers deliver teletherapy and virtual care (in school or at home) to over four million K-12 students, regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay. Hazel aims to remove all barriers to the mental and physical health care that children need to thrive: in school, at home, and in life.

Learn more at hazel.co.

About Hazel

Hazel Health, the leader in school-based telehealth, partners with school districts to provide mental and physical health services to K-12 students where they are–at school or home. Hazel serves nearly 2 million students across 100 school districts, helping to reduce chronic absenteeism and unfinished learning by addressing gaps in health care access. As an extension of the school health team, Hazel helps schools immediately address student physical and mental health care needs. Hazel’s mission is to transform children’s access to health care because when students feel better, they learn better.

Learn more at Hazel.co/hazel-in-schools.

About Hazel

Hazel Health, the leader in school-based telehealth, partners with school districts to provide mental and physical health services to K-12 students where they are–at school or home. Hazel helps school districts address chronic absenteeism, unfinished learning, and school enrollment, by addressing gaps in health care access.

Learn more at Hazel.co/hazel-in-schools.

About Hazel

Hazel Health, the leader in school-based telehealth, partners with school districts and families to provide mental and physical health services to K-12 students where they are–at school or home. Instead of waiting for an appointment with a doctor or therapist, children can see a Hazel provider for a telehealth visit, at no cost to families. With guardian permission, Hazel’s telehealth platform allows children to connect with a health care provider within minutes, or a therapist within days of referral. Hazel’s providers can help with everything from allergies and stomach aches to anxiety and depression. With Hazel, children can get the care they need when they need it.

Learn more at Hazel.co/how-hazel-works.

About Hazel

Hazel Health, the leader in school-based telehealth, partners with school districts and families to provide mental and physical health services to K-12 students where they are–at school or home. At no cost, and regardless of insurance status, Hazel’s providers can help with everything from allergies and stomach aches to anxiety and depression. With Hazel, children can get the care they need when they need it.

Learn more at Hazel.co/how-hazel-works.