‘Sad’ is a word that is often associated with winter. 

For many that might just be a slight feeling of melancholy that the weather is cold and the days are short - but for others it can be a lot more serious. 

The HSE estimates 7% of Irish people suffer from SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) and winter is the most common time of year for it. 

“It’s a subtype of depression, which most people will be familiar with,” clinical psychologist Dr Anne Kehoe told Lunchtime Live.  

“What SAD means is that there’s a seasonal pattern to the depressive symptoms. 

“So, all the things you’d normally associate with feeling down and depressed happen to people when the seasons change - particularly this time of year when we come into winter.” 

The lack of light and the arrival of wet weather during winter means people are less likely to exercise or head out to take part in social activities. 

It means even people who do not have SAD can feel less happy when the weather is consistently poor.  

“Most people suffer from some kind of low feeling about the idea that you can’t do the same things,” Dr Kehoe said. 

“Going for a walk at 7pm in the dark is different to a walk on a beautiful summer’s evening.”

Treatment

The HSE recommends anyone who thinks they have SAD contact their GP and Dr Kehoe said there are a variety of ways it can be treated. 

“It’s okay to get help for that,” she said. 

“It’s not your fault, it’s not that you’re just too unmotivated if you really, really can’t [do things]. 

“But I think just trying to keep in touch with what you do and what makes you feel good is really important - if you can.

“If you can’t, then get some more help talking about it. 

“Maybe you need some therapy, maybe you need to talk to your GP… There’s some research on Vitamin D and all the kinds of other things that would impact your mood healthwise.” 

You can listen back here:

Main image:  A rainy day in Dublin. Picture by: Alamy.com