It’s that time of the year. Not only are the leaves changing colors, the air getting crisper and cooler, but the amount of daylight we have each day is decreasing. During this time of the year, as the hours of daylight gets shorter, you may notice that you begin to feel a little depressed. It is typical this time of year for some people to suffer from seasonal affective disorder, otherwise known as SAD.


What is SAD?
SAD is a type of depression that appears and disappears as the seasons change. If you suffer from this, you will notice that you become depressed in the fall and winter.

Just like with any form of depression, the symptoms can be mild, moderate, or severe. The symptoms of SAD are just about the same as the symptoms of regular depression, except you will only be depressed for the fall and winter seasons, when we are getting less hours of sunlight.

Symptoms of SAD

• Changes in mood



• Loss of interest in normal activities



• Tiredness, Fatigue, and sometimes sleeping more often



• Craving sugary/starchy foods


• Difficulty concentrating



• Being withdrawn from family and friends

Why do people get SAD?
In this case, depression is caused by the decrease of sunlight. Melatonin, a chemical in the brain that makes and helps us sleep, is produced in greater quantities due to the lack of sunlight. The increased amount of Melatonin makes us lethargic, fatigued, and sleepy.

Who gets SAD?
About six in every one hundred people develop symptoms of SAD each year. It is most common in young adults in their early to mid twenties and more common in females than males.

Treatments for SAD
Treatment varies depending on the severity of the symptoms. Some forms of treatment are listed below.

• Increased Light Exposure - Since SAD is triggered by light loss, adding light back you’re your day is needed. For someone with mild symptoms, simply spending more time outdoors during the day might be enough.



• Light Therapy (Phototherapy) - More severe symptoms can be treated with light therapy which involves the use of a special, strong light to imitate daylight. A special light box is placed in your home and you sit near the light each day.



• Medication – Medications are used in severe cases with a combination of light therapy.

So, if you find yourself becoming a little more blue during the upcoming months, try spending a little more time outdoors in the sunlight. If tha doesn’t work and you are still feeling depressed, don’t hesitate to contact your doctor.

Source: http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/feelings/sad.html