Symptoms specific to summer-onset seasonal affective disorder, sometimes called summer depression, may include:

• Trouble sleeping (insomnia)
• Poor appetite
• Weight loss
• Agitation or anxiety

SAD is four times more common in women than in men. Although some children and teenagers get SAD, it usually doesn’t start in people younger than the age of 20. Your chance of getting SAD reduces as you get older. SAD is also more common the farther north you go, for obvious reasons.

There is no clear cause of SAD. Reduced levels of sunlight in fall and winter and shorter days are thought to be linked to a chemical change in the brain and may be part of the cause of Seasonal Affective Disorder. The decrease in serotonin, a brain chemical (neurotransmitter) that affects mood, might play a role in SAD.
This diminution in sunlight may disrupt your body’s internal clock and lead to feelings of depression. Melatonin levels are also affected, the change in season can disrupt the balance of the body’s level of melatonin, which plays a role in sleep patterns and mood, also may be linked to SAD.

There are some risk factors to consider.

-Family history. People with SAD may be more likely to have blood relatives with SAD or another form of depression.

-Having major depression or bipolar disorder. Symptoms of depression may worsen seasonally if you have one of these conditions.

-Living far from the equator. SAD appears to be more common among people who live far north or south of the equator. This may be due to decreased sunlight during the winter and longer days during the summer months.

As with other types of depression, SAD can get worse and lead to problems if it’s not treated. these problems include; social withdrawal, school or work problems, substance abuse, other mental health disorders such as anxiety or eating disorders and suicidal thoughts or behaviour.

A few treatments are available for seasonal affective disorder (SAD), including cognitive behavioural therapy, light therapy (phototherapy), medications and antidepressants depending on the severity of the case.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommendations is that SAD should be treated as other types of depression. Treatment includes the above options, with talking treatments such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) recognised as a highly and clinically proven effective treatment, combined with medication, your doctor’s prescription, whether necessary.

Light therapy is also a popular treatment for SAD, although NICE says it’s not clear whether it’s effective. Also referred to as heliotherapy— It consists either of exposure to daylight or AN equivalent form of light as a treatment for seasonal affective disorder. Although it is not recognised as a proper treatment, I think it is worth a try. I would recommend clients to get a light therapy lamp and use it complimentary to therapy. There are many lamps and lightboxes marketed as SAD or light therapy lamps on the market.

There are other things you can consider and try by yourself that are simple and that may improve your symptoms.

-Try to get as much natural sunlight as possible – even a brief lunchtime walk can be beneficial, spending time outdoors, even on cloudy days.
-Make your work and home environments as light and airy as possible
-Sit near windows when you’re indoors
-Take plenty of regular exercise, particularly outdoors and in daylight
-Eat a healthy, balanced diet if possible, avoid stressful situations and take steps to manage stress.
-It can also be helpful to talk to your family and friends about SAD, so they understand how your mood changes during the winter. This can help them to support you more effectively.
-Have your vitamins checked and supplemented if needed, studies have shown a link between vitamin D deficiency and depression. vitamin D might play an important role in regulating mood.
-Planning a mid-winter break, with family, friends or by yourself, a vacation to a sunny climate.