For a long time, we’ve heard of a particular problem called SAD. For the same length of time, it hasn’t been taken that seriously, and many people assume that it’s just becoming a little blue when the weather turns cold after months of brilliant blue skies.
However, when you delve deeper into what Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, actually is and what it means, you’ll learn that it’s actually a very debilitating disorder, which can affect anyone at all. When working in an office environment, it’s important to be aware of the risks of developing SAD, especially if your office desks are positioned to the point where you don’t get much in the way of natural light.
Check out this video which outlines the condition in greater detail.
As you can see, SAD is not something to take lightly and it is a type of depression which occurs during the winter months, when there is typically less natural light, compared to summer. This can be a particular problem if you’re going to work in the dark and coming home in the dark too. As you will know only too well, this is a particular issue for many office workers!
The main symptoms of SAD are:
- A low mood which you can’t seem to shake
- Losing interest in the things which you normally enjoy
- Feeling irritable with those around you, particularly those who are close to you in the office seating plan
- Feeling like you don't have much energy and quite tired
- Finding it hard to wake up in the morning
- Craving different types of foods, particularly carbs
The reason why some people develop SAD and others don’t isn’t really known. It’s the same mystery as to why some people become depressed but others don’t. There is an idea that it may fun in families, but that isn’t 100% proven either.
The reason why sunlight pays such a huge part in SAD is that during the winter months there is less of it. As a result, this lower exposure to sunlight might cause a certain part of the brain, called the hypothalamus, to work less effectively. This then affects the production and release of key hormones which regulate mood, such as serotonin.
Whilst there’s sure to be a lot more research into what causes SAD and how to treat it over the next few years, if you feel that you’re struggling at work because of feelings of depression, then it’s important that you speak to your doctor. There are many treatment options available for such conditions, and if your particular case is thought to be due to SAD, you could think about light therapy, which seeks to replace the natural light that you’re missing due to the winter months.
Any type of depression affects the way you feel, the way you see the world, the way you live your life and how you work. Mental health is something we all need to be more aware of and we need to talk about it far more openly in order to knock down the stigma that still exists. In the workplace in particular, being more aware of such issues can help those affected to deal with everything better, and can also allow employees to support each other more openly too.
Remember, healthy workers are productive workers, but on a human side, nobody wants to see someone they’re close to at work feeling low, whatever the reason. By taking SAD more seriously and considering whether or not this is the reason for your lack of energy and low mood, you can counteract the symptoms by getting help before the problem worsens.
Whilst SAD does tend to improve when the summer months arrive, the winter is long. Nobody should live their life in sadness simply because of the time of year.