With summer finally here, almost everyone is enjoying the sunshine. But people with Seasonal Affective Disorder relish it even more.

Two years ago, second-year UVic English student, Melissa Teixeira was diagnosed with Seasonal Affective Disorder — often called SAD. For years she felt depessed, but medications weren’t helping much.

“I kept coming in year after year around the same time just feeling awful,” Teixeira said. “I would feel really sluggish or in a horribly grumpy mood for no reason. I was on a lot of different anti-depressants and that wasn’t really helping.”

Teixeira’s doctor finally suggested she might have Seasonal Affective Disorder — a type of depression that’s very similar to major depression, but tends to be linked with the weather or the time of year.

Sarah Hamid-Balma, communications director for the B.C. division of the Canadian Mental Health Association said that the results can vary case by case.

“For most people, [SAD] starts to rear its head in the fall and then clears up in the springtime,” said Hamid-Balma. “But a small minority of people do get it in the summer.”

Hamid-Balma estimates that approximately two per cent of Canadians experience SAD during their lifetime. University students are four times more likely to be diagnosed with the disorder. A survey by the American College Health Association of almost 95,000 students found that eight per cent have had Seasonal Affective Disorder.

SAD has only been a recognized disorder since the early ‘80s. Teixeira had never heard of the condition until her doctor diagnosed her.

“When I first found out I had SAD, I thought it was the silliest thing I’d ever heard of. Everyone gets grumpy when it’s raining or when it’s gross out,” she said. “I didn’t really take it very seriously at first, and it took a while for my mom to convince me to go to treatments.”

Treatments for Seasonal Affective Disorder involve light therapy. Patients sit in a room with a special kind of light for a prescribed length of time. But there can be side-effects if it’s not done properly.

“You have to be careful — you don’t want to just take any light off a grocery shelf,” said Hamid-Balma. “It has to be certain kinds of rays. There can be side-effects too, so it has to be monitored by a physician and used for an appropriate length of time.”

Side-effects can include eye strains, headaches and negative interactions with some medicines. Teixeira said she experienced headaches during her first few light treatments, but they disappeared as the treatments progressed.

Lifestyle changes, such as more exercise and a healthier diet, can also help. But while treatment is fairly simple, SAD can be serious if not properly treated.

“SAD is not any less at risk for suicidal thoughts than any other kinds of depression,” said Hamid-Balma. The disorder can also impact appetite, energy and sleep.

“I didn’t want to do anything or be around anyone,” recalled Teixeira. “I just wanted to go to bed and take the whole week off.”

Hamid-Balma noted that about 15 per cent of Canadians also have winter blues, a milder form of SAD.

For Teixeira, undergoing light treatment has allowed her to stop taking anti-depressants. This summer, she’ll be enjoying the sun.

“Last week was awesome when it was super sunny,” she said. “I think everyone gets that when it’s sunny and nice out, but my entire mood for the day will change.”