You have probably heard the old saying that suicide rates peak around December. This would make sense given that people associate depression with winter and that many believe holiday cheer amplifies loneliness and hopelessness for people who have lost loved ones.
However, data does not back this claim up. In fact, the winter months have the LOWEST rates of suicide and self-harm attempts in the United States, per the CDC. However, there is some truth to depression and isolation upswings during the holiday season. As a matter of fact, it is so common that we even have a name for it: Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
The ironically abbreviated SAD is a form of depression that seems to come and go with the changing of the seasons.
Typically, it will begin in late fall and go away during the spring and summer. The symptoms are similar to typical depression and include sadness, gloomy outlook, irritability, low energy, difficulty sleeping, weight gain, and loss of interest in things you enjoy. SAD is more common in women and young adults (20-35 years of age). You are also at a much higher risk of developing symptoms of SAD if you or a family member has depression.
So, what causes SAD? Like most forms of depression, it is not well understood, however, it is theorized that it results from an imbalance of certain neurotransmitters inside the brain. Serotonin, among other things, is the neurotransmitter responsible for balancing mood in a person. Interestingly enough, people who suffer from SAD also display elevated levels of melatonin.
Melatonin is a hormone made by the pineal gland in the brain. The main job of melatonin is to tell you when you are sleepy. We generate melatonin when we are not exposed to sunlight, thus, naturally telling us that it is time for bed.
A person suffering from SAD with elevated melatonin levels is probably not getting enough natural sunlight. This is further confirmed by the fact that many SAD suffers have decreased levels of Vitamin D, which requires sunlight to synthesize.
To this end, the main treatment for SAD is light therapy. To achieve this, a person will either increase the amount of time that they spend outdoors or purchase a light therapy box (Wal-Mart sells them!). The idea is that you replace the natural sunshine that you miss during the fall and winter months. This will increase Vitamin D production while decreasing melatonin levels.
Of course, for some people, this isn’t enough. As always, if your symptoms are severe or you ever entertain the idea of self-harm, consult your physician right away. As for normal holiday stress, try to relax and realize the true meaning of the season.
Speaking in front of thousands of people has taught many important lessons; the main one being this: People notice much less than you think. Who cares if your couch has dust bunnies under it, the house needs repainting, or your turkey is too dry? People don’t care about that. They care about seeing each other. Have a great holiday season!
Stay safe out there.
M. Eric Williams, MS, NR-P is a Mississippi native and the Assistant Director of Emergency Medical Education at Jones County Junior College. He is a current Doctoral researcher at Delta State University and has 15 years’ experience in healthcare. If you have questions or comments, you may contact him at eric.williams@jcjc.edu.
