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Finding holiday cheer isn’t always easy for those in recovery from substance use disorders (SUDs) who also suffer from a dual diagnosis known as seasonal affective disorder, also known as S.A.D. S.A.D. is a treatable mood disorder characterized by symptoms of recurrent and often major depression that surface seasonally. S.A.D. recurs predominantly during the fall and winter seasons when shorter days marked by less sunlight can disrupt sleep patterns, circadian rhythms and the production of serotonin and other good mood-regulating neurotransmitters. That reality can make S.A.D. an obstacle to enjoying the good cheer of the holidays while sober.
How common is S.A.D., and what are the risk factors for it? What’s the link between S.A.D. and substance abuse? How do you manage symptoms of S.A.D. when you’re in recovery? This article will answer these questions in an effort to spread more of the joy of the season to those in recovery from SUDs and dual diagnoses like S.A.D.
S.A.D. is a very common condition in America. Just how common can depend on whom you ask. Researchers who study the syndrome have dubbed it a “prevalent mental health problem” that accounts for an estimated 10 to 20 percent of all recurrent depression cases. (Depression itself is one of the most common mental disorders in the United States, according to the National Institutes of Health.)
In a given year, roughly 5 percent of the U.S. population suffers from seasonal depression, according to a Mayo Clinic estimate. A report by the Cleveland Clinic pegs the number of Americans suffering from S.A.D. at half a million, but adds that as many as 10 or 20 percent of the U.S. population suffers from a milder version in the form of the very familiar “winter blues.”
More than 20 percent of people diagnosed with a mood disorder such as S.A.D. struggle with a substance abuse problem, the Cleveland Clinic has also said. There is thus a link between seasonal depression—and even its milder version, the winter blues—and substance abuse. One manifestation of this link may be the fact that alcohol-related traffic fatalities increase by a whopping 50 percent during the holiday season, according to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
An obvious risk factor for S.A.D. is being a woman: anywhere from 60 to 90 percent of all people diagnosed with S.A.D. are women, according to information from the American Osteopathic Association. The same source says older teens and younger adults are also more likely to suffer from this condition. Other risk factors can include:
Because S.A.D. is a subtype of major depression, the symptoms can also be similar:
The Mayo Clinic lists the following symptoms as other potential signs of winter-specific S.A.D.:
If you are in recovery with a dual diagnosis of S.A.D., coping with and managing your symptoms is feasible and can help you experience more of the holiday cheer of the season while staying sober. The following tips can help:
