"It's possible that seasonal affective disorder evolved to get us through these dark, cold months"
"In that well-worn phrase, winter is coming, and with it what can seem like an unyielding darkness. Dark when you go to work and dark when you come home. For some of us, this brings the risk of low mood and even depression. The long nights can trigger a type of depression called seasonal affective disorder, or SAD for short."
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a form of depression triggered by long, dark winter nights. People can experience low mood and depressive symptoms when daylight is scarce and darkness surrounds daily routines, such as commuting to and from work. The condition affects some individuals more than others and carries the risk of clinically significant depression during winter months. One possibility is that SAD has evolutionary roots, evolving as an adaptive response to help humans cope with prolonged cold and darkness. Recognizing the seasonal pattern and its link to reduced daylight can guide attention to prevention and treatment when winter arrives.
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