Are you S.A.D.?

What is SAD Anyway?


You may have heard of this disorder, and didn't think much of it. It affects between 4-6 % of the US population in a severe way. Many others are affected with more mild cases, and three quarters of SAD sufferers are women. It is most likely to affect women in their 20's, 30's, and 40"s.

"Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), also known as winter depression or winter blues, is a mood disorder in which people who have normal mental health throughout most of the year experience depressive symptoms in the winter, or, less frequently, in the summer, spring or autumn, repeatedly, year after year. In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), SAD is not a unique mood disorder, but is "a specifier of major depression".


"The US National Library of Medicine notes that "some people experience a serious mood change when the seasons change. They may sleep too much, have little energy, and may also feel depressed. Though symptoms can be severe, they usually clear up." The condition in the summer is often referred to as reverse seasonal affective disorder, and can also include heightened anxiety."  -Wikipedia

Common Symptoms

Symptoms of winter SAD include:

• Fatigue
• Increased need for sleep
• Decreased levels of energy
• Weight gain
• Increase in appetite
• Difficulty concentrating
• Increased desire to be alone

Symptoms of summer SAD include:

• Weight loss
• Trouble sleeping
• Decreased appetite

I'm SAD...

What Can I Do About IT?

There are several different treatments for classic (winter-based) seasonal affective disorder, including light therapy with bright lights or sunlight, ionized-air administration, anti-depressant medication, cognitive-behavioral therapy,  and carefully timed supplementation of the hormone melatonin. 

Though some of these treatments are proven to be effective, they can also be expensive and if possible should be used as a last resort. If you think you might be affected by SAD, perhaps you should try sitting on your back porch for 15 minutes a day or going for a little walk. Vitamin D which naturally comes from milk products and sunlight is essential to our bodies. Do what you can, even in the dreary winter months to soak up a few minutes of healing rays.