Don’t confuse seasonal affective disorder with the winter blues

Disability Law /
Courtney Mulqueen
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By Tony Poland, LegalMatters Staff • Many people experience a sense of malaise in the depths of winter but those suffering from seasonal affective disorder (SAD) face a much more serious mental health challenge, says Ontario disability insurance lawyer Courtney Mulqueen.

“At one time or another, most of us will get the winter blues. Seasonal affective disorder is not that,” says Mulqeen, principal lawyer of Mulqueen Disability Law Professional Corporation. “It is actual clinical depression but recognizing and treating this ailment can be present problems.

“Researchers say there is no clear cause of SAD although shorter days and less sunlight are believed to be linked to a chemical change in the brain and may trigger depression,” she tells LegalMattersCanada.ca. “Seasonal affective disorder can impact people’s memory, their concentration, their focus and it can affect their relationships with people while also impairing their ability to work.”

The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) states the list of signs and symptoms of SAD is the same as the list for major depression and can appear and disappear at about the same time each year. People typically experience the effects in the fall or winter, although some may feel season-linked symptoms in the summer, the Centre reports.

Major symptom is an unhappy, despairing mood

The major symptom is an unhappy, despairing mood, according to CAMH, with a feeling that is present most days and lasting for more than two weeks.

“It seems to mainly affect women. Young people are also more likely to develop SAD,” says Mulqueen. “People may find that during winter months they are struggling to live as they normally would. They may not be able to work and need to take time off work to seek treatment. Then comes spring and summer and they feel better.”

According to CAMH, symptoms may include:

  • changes in appetite and weight;
  • difficulty sleeping;
  • loss of interest in work, hobbies, people or sex;
  • withdrawal from family and friends;
  • a feeling of uselessness, hopelessness, excessive guilt, pessimism or low self-esteem;
  • agitation or feeling slowed down;
  • irritability;
  • fatigue;
  • trouble concentrating, remembering and making decisions;
  • crying or feeling like crying but not being able to;
  • thoughts of suicide; and
  • a loss of touch with reality, hearing voices or having delusional thoughts.

People may withdraw socially and have an increased sensitivity to rejection, studies indicate. They may also suffer from physical problems, such as headaches.

Change in light may impact someone’s biological clock

Researchers theorize that changes in light may upset a person’s biological clock, which controls sleep-wake patterns and disturb neurotransmitter functions.

“SAD may be like a form of jet lag, where there’s a disconnect between the internal clock and the external environment,” Dr. Raymond Lam tells CBC News. “Light is the strongest synchronizer of that biological clock.

“These are people who have clinical depressions but only during the wintertime,” adds the professor of psychiatry, who has spent decades researching seasonal depression. “By spring and summer, they are actually feeling better – and in the summertime, they’re feeling well.” 

The Canadian Psychological Association states 15 per cent of Canadians will report at least a mild case of SAD in their lifetime, while two to three per cent will suffer serious cases. Those with a family history of any form of depression may also be at risk of developing SAD, according to the association.

In recent years, the third Monday of January has been recognized as Blue Monday, the day when happiness levels are at their lowest.

However, Mulqueen says Blue Monday has no scientific basis and, in fact, began as a British marketing ploy to sell vacation packages.

It has been reported that the concept was introduced in 2004 when psychologist Cliff Arnall was asked by a travel company to come up with a formula for the January blues.

Formula took several factors into consideration

His formula took into consideration weather, debt, monthly salary, time since Christmas, time since failing New Year’s resolutions, low motivational levels and the feeling of a need to take action.

Arnall later called the formula pseudoscience and urged people to “refute the whole notion” of Blue Monday.

Still, the term is trotted out each January and tends to minimize the suffering of those who experience seasonal affective disorder, says Mulqueen.

She says SAD is another example of an invisible disability that is difficult to diagnose. 

“People suffering from seasonal affective disorder really do have to rely on a doctor to help them in assessing this ailment,” Mulqueen says. “They may even have to advocate for themselves.”

The problem, she says, is that people may not realize the extent of their condition.

“Some may be brushing it off, believing they are feeling low because it is just cold and overcast outside,” Mulqueen says. “However, it could potentially be something more than the winter blahs. If it is affecting their functioning and their ability to do their job, that is when they need to seek help.”

This winter has presented challenges

This winter has been difficult for those experiencing SAD, especially in the Greater Toronto Area, she notes.

Environment Canada senior climatologist David Phillips told CTV News it has been an uncharacteristically dreary winter so far with more overcast days than we would normally experience.

He said Toronto typically sees between 190 to 200 hours of clear skies at this point in the winter.

“All we’ve had is 30,” he told CTV the day before Blue Monday. “It’s almost like the sun doesn’t appear anymore. It’s almost like a Vancouver kind of a winter.”

Mulqueen says she has noticed the impact this season’s weather has had.

“Even from speaking to my clients, people seem a little bit sadder than normal and everyone comments on the gloomy weather,” she says. “And the longer it goes on, the more we could see greater numbers of  people struggling.”

‘Trickle-down effect’ on health

Mulqueen says for those suffering from an underlying condition such as chronic pain, SAD, like any mental health issue, can be an aggravating factor and have a “trickle-down effect” on their health.

Those who believe they may be depressed should not ignore the problem since the issue can linger for weeks, months or even years, she says. Doctors agree that early diagnosis and treatment is key to recovery, she says.

Treatment for seasonal affective disorder can include exposure to sunlight, such as spending time outside or near a window. Indoor light therapy may help as well as antidepressants to correct any chemical imbalances. Psychotherapy can also be effective, researchers say.

Like any illness, Mulqueen says it is important to be proactive when seeking help if you plan to file a claim for short or long-term disability.

“If SAD is affecting your life and your ability to work, you should be consulting with your doctor,” she says. “Without a diagnosis and proper treatment, an insurance company is likely to deny your claim.”

Seasonal affective disorder is a recognized form of depression that should not be ignored, Mulqueen says.

“It can be a mistake to assume anything when it comes to mental health,” she says. “Proving a SAD claim can have its challenges so it can be in your best interests to seek legal help. Having someone in your corner to fight for your rights can not only help ensure you are getting the benefits you paid for and deserve, but it will allow you to focus on getting your life back on the right path.”