Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) Can Affect Your Relationships

If you’ve ever had a partner who suffers from any kind of depression, you know that it can be extremely difficult to maintain a relationship.  It can be just as challenging when it changes with the seasons.  Approximately 14% of Americans experience some degree of seasonal affective disorder (SAD).  Typically it’s not as intense in the warmer climates, but it can still cause some winter blues that make it difficult to take joy in the things that usually make you happy.  SAD is different from depression because it only affects individuals for selected months out of the year. The rest of the year, they can lead perfectly normal, happy lives and have satisfying relationships. But when SAD hits, it can hit some people so hard that it hurts their relationships. Here is how seasonal affective disorder affects your relationship.

It’s Abrupt

Your partner can feel like just yesterday you popped up in the morning, excited to take on the day. In fact, if you suffer from SAD, you’re probably very happy during the spring and summer. You come to life during the warm months, so when the change of seasons—and, subsequently, your moods—occurs, your partner can feel like he’s waking up next to a different person.

It’s Hard on Your Partner Too

Even if your partner doesn’t suffer from SAD, he is probably mildly affected by the change of seasons. His friends aren’t planning as many barbecues, he isn’t getting as much vitamin D, and the sky just looks dreary. So, in addition to his own reaction to the change of season, he has to deal with feeling like he’s lost his romantic partner to depression.

It Can Hurt Your Sex Life

You likely do not have much sex during fall and winter if you suffer from SAD. You’re prone to negative thought patterns and anxiety, none of which is conducive to the relaxed state your body needs to be in to feel aroused. Not having sex, however, is harmful to your emotional bond with your partner and that strained bond can make SAD feel even worse.

It Makes Orgasms Difficult

Even when you do have sex, you may struggle to orgasm. You need to be very present in order to have an orgasm, but your thoughts quickly wander away during sex. This can make your partner feel insecure that he’s no longer good in bed, or even feel selfish for convincing you to have sex.

You Sit Out on the Holidays

Every week you’re invited to holiday parties. Between Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas time, you and your partner are invited to more parties than you’re invited to all year long. But you sit many of them out because of your condition. This means your partner often has to go stag and face all the friends who pity him for showing up alone.

You Don’t Go To Bed Together

Those with SAD often experience extreme fatigue and may sleep 10 to 12 hours a night. This means that you and your partner likely are not going to bed at the same time. You’ll be in bed long before he comes to bed, and sleep in long after he gets up. So you lose those little bonding moments you get in bed.

You Can Put On Weight

SAD can make you crave heavier foods and not want to exercise. Naturally, this can lead to some weight gain. Weight gain can make you feel insecure in your relationship, which, again, isn’t good for your sex life.

Your Partner Fights to Not Take it Personally

You don’t laugh at your partner’s jokes or seem to take as much joy in seeing him. You don’t respond as enthusiastically to his touch or send as many sweet text messages. He has to try very hard not to take it personally. You aren’t upset with him. In fact, you don’t feel anger; you just feel an absence of joy.

Your Partner Wants to Go Out, But Can’t

Your partner wants to get out. He wants to see friends and exercise. He wants to do some of the things that help him fight the winter blues. But he often feels guilty leaving the house, because you’re staying home, alone on the couch, and depressed. He feels very torn each time he goes to do something he enjoys.

Your Partner Can Feel Lonely

When you suffer from SAD, you’re rarely present. You can feel removed from your body, or like you’re under water when you’re having conversations with people. This can leave your partner feeling very lonely throughout fall and winter. You’re there, but you’re not really there. 

Trips and Vacations Go Out The Window

Your partner either has to sit out or go alone if they want to take a vacation.  It might even be a quick trip to a cabin for a weekend.  A lot of couples build lifelong memories doing things like that, but your partner feels like he’s left out of that.

It Dominates Your Decor

Your SAD may drive you to make some sudden changes in the decoration of your home. You want brighter lights. You want to paint some walls yellow. You want more plants. You want more decorative pillows. You want to throw out some pieces of furniture entirely. Your partner has to navigate helping you make the home a happier place for you, without giving up his own style entirely.

You Go Right To Bed

Your partner probably looks forward to the after-work wind-down with you. This is when you sit on the couch, have a glass of wine, cook dinner together, vent about the day and catch up. But you’re either asleep or mentally checked out when he gets home.

You Can’t Really Drink

You can’t really even have alcohol because it intensifies your feelings of depression. So your partner is alone in his nightcap. Or you’re always the designated driver when you go out.

It’s Not All Mistletoe and Sledding

Many people don’t realize that when you have SAD, fall and winter aren’t the magical months they are for others. They aren’t filled with eggnog, mistletoe, nature walks, cute snow outfits and gingerbread houses. It’s a dark time for you and your partner—it’s a time you dread all year long.