{"id":27587,"date":"2026-01-11T08:48:37","date_gmt":"2026-01-11T00:48:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=27587"},"modified":"2026-01-11T08:48:37","modified_gmt":"2026-01-11T00:48:37","slug":"explainer-what-is-sad-why-seasonal-affective-disorder-makes-you-feel-down-and-how-to-combat-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=27587","title":{"rendered":"Explainer | What is SAD? Why seasonal affective disorder makes you feel down, and how to combat it"},"content":{"rendered":"


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A cold weather warning was issued as Hong Kong ushered in 2026, with the temperature dropping to 12 degrees Celsius (54 degrees Fahrenheit) overnight. There was a chill in the air and windy conditions in the days that followed as a cold front moved through.<\/p>\n

While winter in the city is projected to be normal, day-to-day fluctuations mean that residents can expect the occasional cold snap for the rest of the season.<\/p>\n

For many people, less sunlight, lower temperatures and decreased humidity in the cooler months can spell a decline in mental and emotional well-being, sometimes referred to as SAD, or seasonal affective disorder.<\/p>\n

SAD explained<\/h3>\n

American psychiatrist Norman Rosenthal coined the term SAD in 1984. A subtype of depression, SAD typically starts in the autumn and winter, when the daylight hours are shorter.<\/p>\n

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\"Norman<\/div>
Norman Rosenthal coined the term SAD in 1984.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Rosenthal and colleagues at the US National Institute of Mental Health theorised that less sunlight could throw the internal body clock, known as the circadian rhythm<\/span>, off balance, lowering levels of serotonin<\/span>, a chemical messenger that helps regulate mood, sleep, digestion and other functions.<\/div>\n

Signs of SAD<\/h3>\n

In his 2005 book, Winter Blues: Everything You Need to Know to Beat Seasonal Affective Disorder<\/em>, Rosenthal describes how people with SAD experience low mood, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, increased sleep and carbohydrate cravings.<\/p>\n

Besides that, inclement weather may make us behave in ways that maintain a low mood, adds Bea Smith, a psychotherapist at Maple Tree Counselling in Hong Kong. We may exercise less, spend less time outdoors and socialise less \u2013 all \u201cnatural antidepressant\u201d activities.<\/p>\n

In spring and summer, SAD symptoms tend to dissipate naturally.<\/p>\n

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\"The<\/div>
The cover of Rosenthal\u2019s book. Photo: Amazon<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

These symptoms overlap with those of major depression, but there are some differences, Smith says.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n


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