The Thirty Day Year

What You Need To Know About Seasonal Affective Disorder

If you experience feelings of intense sadness during seasons when the days are shorter due to less sunlight, and if this happens for more than one year, you may suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Seasonal Affective disorder (S.A.D.) can affect anyone.

It is most common in the winter months in northern climates.

Women are eight times more likely than men to experience S.A.D..

In Ontario, it is believed that 2-3% of the population suffers from the Disorder.

It is important that you see your doctor if you believe you may be suffering from Seasonal affective Disorder, as there are some physical conditions, such as Thyroid disorder, which may produce similar symptoms.

Clinical depression or manic depression must also be ruled out.

Symptoms of S.A.D. include:

-difficulty getting out of bed in the morning

-sleeping difficulties

-feeling overly tired for no apparent reason

-weight gain resulting from an increased craving for carbohydrates and sweets

-sleeping too much

-difficulty staying awake

-feelings of hopelessness

-avoiding people

-lack of interest in sex or physical closeness

-tenseness

-inability to concentrate

Possible Treatments:

-light therapy, where you sit a couple of feet away from a specially designed light for a couple of hours. Be sure you see your doctor before trying light therapy, as there are side effects

-exercise, especially if done out of doors, and preferably with someone else.

Getting outside exposes you to natural light, which, even on a cloudy day is better for you than any artificial light could be.

Also, it gets you out of the house, potentially around other people, prompts improved circulation, releases feel good hormones, plus it gets you in the fresh air, all of which help to improve your mood.

Social contact may be the last thing you feel like when you are experiencing Seasonal Affective Disorder, but it is just what you need to help you feel better.

Exercise, ironically, also helps to fight fatigue.

-When you are reading or working, position yourself next to a window that gets as much natural light as possible, to increase exposure.

-Light therapy can take up to four weeks to take affect.

if you are experiencing symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder, be sure to see your doctor. He can rule out other possible causes, such as more serious depression or mood disorders.