What is Seasonal Affective Disorder and how is that different from depression?

Seasonal affective disorder, also known as SAD, is a disorder where you actually are depressed, but your mood depends on the weather. People with SAD feel depressed when it's winter, when the sun isn't here, and when it's summer they don't have that kind of problem. I heard somewhere that people with SAD can feel better when it's winter if they use lamps. And depressed people are depressed no matter what weather is like. For example, I was really, really depressed this summer and the sun was shining but it didn't affect me at all. And now, in winter, I'm depressed too. That's actually the difference. There are other many differences but I will write some other time about it.

SAD is by definition a seasonal type of depression. It is just one type of depression among other varieties.

Well, Seasonal Affective Disorder, even from it's name, is a state of emotions occurred cause of seasons. It is different from depression cause it is caused by season and it also goes away with the season, which is not the same as in depression which is persistent.

Seasonal affective disorder is incredibly similar to depression in the way it affects people - e.g. it's symptoms, such as fatigue, loss of interest, irritability - however, like the name states, it is seasonal. This means it only occurs at certain times of the year, usually winter, due to the dark, cold nights. Despite this, it is not at all unheard of it for it to affect people in other seasons.

Seasonal Affective Disorder is seen to be prevalent during a particular season, usually winters. Depression is prevalent across seasons and has no more prevalence in one season than another.

Seasonal Affective Disorder is a mild form of Depression when the seasons ( particularly in the Winter) change and there is limited Sunlight. It is different from Depression because regular Depression can last longer.

http://www.allaboutdepression.com/dia_09.html Take a look at this and see if it helps.

It is actually just a more specific type of depression that is linked to regular patterns of depressive episodes. It basically just means that the onset of depression starts at specific time or season of the year, with the onset being consistent through many years. While on the other hand, depression is just throughout the year all year round.

Seasonal affective disorder is a mood disorder characterized by depression that occurs at the same time every year. How is it different from depression? Depression is something that does not go away unless on medication or trying recovery, and/or self-help.

Its a depression thatcomes and goes just like the seasons come and go it's called SAD for short.