Often associated with lack of sunlight, seasonal affective disorder (SAD) occurs mainly in the winter months, but can also occur year round in locations that are frequently overcast or rainy.
What is Seasonal Affective Disorder
When the seasons change, typically starting in October, the days become shorter and the temperature becomes cooler. In addition, the sunlight that is present during the day is at a less direct angle than during the summer, which causes the light to seem not as bright.
In some people, these changes in the environment cause their internal body clock to malfunction, which leads to them feeling blue. Although minor cases of seasonal depression affect most of the population at some point, others suffer from a more serious form called "seasonal affective disorder."
Symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder
Since SAD affects different people in different ways, there are many symptoms of the syndrome. Some of the most common symptoms of SAD are a lack of energy, tendency to oversleep or take too many naps, fatigue, weight gain, not accomplishing tasks and a weakened immune system.
More serious symptoms include withdrawal from family and friends and ever present feelings of sadness. Since SAD sometimes develops into more serious forms of depression, these symptoms should be taken seriously if they persist for more than two weeks.
Treatments for Seasonal Affective Disorder
Changes to the diet can lessen the symptoms of SAD. Begin by eating a low fat diet that limits sugar intake. Elimination of caffeine may also help some sufferers. In addition, a daily vitamin supplement with magnesium, B complex and iron can significantly improve a person’s energy level.
One of the most important treatments for SAD is light therapy. For some, this may mean spending at least 30 minutes outside each day. For those who live in cold or cloudy climates, an indoor sunlamp can provide the same benefits. These methods work in two ways. First, there is a natural awakening that occurs any time there is light. The second way is that by absorbing outdoor sunlight, the body absorbs vitamin D, which is a natural mood booster.
For those who are stuck mostly indoors, aromatherapy seems to be an effective treatment. Aromas such as peppermint, eucalyptus, lavender and lemongrass awaken the senses. These scents can be purchased as essential oils or burned as scented candles.
Additional Facts about Seasonal Affective Disorder
Here are some additional facts about SAD, taken from WebMD.
- Seasonal affective disorder occurs four times more often in women than men
- SAD affects every age group, but people between 15 and 55 are most susceptible.
- SAD affects approximately 10 million people in the Unites States.
References:
http://www.webmd.com/depression/tc/seasonal-affective-disorder-sad-topic-overview
http://www.webmd.com/hw-popup/who-is-affected-by-seasonal-affective-disorder-sad
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