Many can be seen thriving during the warm weather and feeling symptoms during the colder weather

“It’s ok, it’s just that seasonal depression, everyone has it.” Have you ever heard someone talk about seasonal depression, or do you even know what seasonal depression is? Many believe that it is normal to get down and feel mentally unstable during the wintertime, just just because of the weather. But is this really a thing? Does the cold weather make some depressed?

What Is It?

Many people know it as seasonal depression, but what if I told you there was actually a disorder that explains the symptoms of what people call seasonal depression? Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that comes and goes in a seasonal pattern. It is often called “winter depression” as the symptoms of this disorder are more prominently shown and tend to be more severe during the winter. However, it isn’t completely uncommon for individuals with SAD to have more symptoms during the summer and feel better during the winter. 

Is it Fake?

It has become questioned by many if seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a true thing. Scientists have stated that they may have debunked the statement that feeling low during the winter is an illness that is due to disturbed brain chemicals. Many state that there isn’t much evidence to state that SAD is a true disorder and that individuals affected need any sort of medicine to help this disorder. SAD is often self-diagnosed and self-diagnosed wrong. In order to be seen as eligible to become diagnosed with SAD, there is a certain set of criteria that needs to be met, that is pre-written and pre-set in the “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.” The sad truth may be that what everyone calls “seasonal/winter depression,” is possibly just normal depression. Individuals might not want to state that they just have depression, therefore having a reason for this depression may make some individuals feel better about their mental health.

It is still a mystery as to whether or not seasonal depression/winter depression is a true disorder that needs to be treated. Many believe that it is a true disorder, while others believe that there is seemingly no evidence or little evidence that this disorder is a real thing.