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Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
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Many people who live in the northern latitudes experience the winter blues to some extent. Some can muddle through the lethargy, fatigue and lack of motivation felt during autumn and winter. For those suffering from SAD, it is difficult to make it through the dark season.

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Seasonal affective disorder or SAD is a form of depression that occurs mostly during the fall and winter months, when days shorten and sunlight decreases. One of the characteristics of this particular form of depression is its seasonal aspect. In many of the articles dealing with this subject, you will also find the expressions "winter depression" and "winter blues". Nightshift workers or people who work or live in a poorly or badly lit place can also suffer from SAD, even during summer. Usually, women tend to suffer from this type of depression more than men, but children and teenagers can also suffer from this problem. The depressive symptoms appear more often during the fall months and tend to disappear come late winter or early spring.

The seasonal onset of this depression seems to occur in the late Summer or Fall, especially in northern latitudes, when the days grow shorter. It subsides in the Spring when the weather improves and the days grow longer. This depression is often accompanied by general sluggishness, irritability, carbohydrate craving and reduced libido. It is important, however, to consider that the seasonality may be caused by other factors, notably psychological (eg. the return to school in the Fall and the anticipation of Summer vacation in the Spring). For this reason, it is always a good idea to consult with a health professional. If you do not know of any, please send a email or call us for our free referral to experienced clinicians in your area.

The magnitude of seasonal difficulties may vary from one person to another. For SAD sufferers, it is a relief to know that depression is no longer linked to a weakness of character, but to an alteration of our brain chemistry.

Many people treated by Dr Norman Rosenthal at the NIMH (National Institute Mental Health) in Maryland, USA have told how, prior to being diagnosed with SAD, they felt lazy, worthless, and immature. Just knowing that the disease has a name, a description and that there is an affordable and effective non-invasive treatment, is a relief in itself.

Symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

• Feeling tired, depressed or sad
• Increased appetite
• Craving for carbohydrates and starchy foods
• Weight gain
• Sleeping more than usual
• Social withdrawal
• Lack of interest in usual activities
• Inability to concentrate, to focus
• Inability to meet deadlines
• Loss of sexual desire
• Body aches and pains (several people have the feeling that they have a cold all winter long)

Take the MSNBC Quiz to see if you have the symptoms of SAD...

Warning:

Anyone who is suffering from depression must consult a qualified health professional and SAD sufferers are not an exception. Although a self-diagnosis seems relatively easy to make, other conditions can be similar to SAD. These problems must be considered and eliminated before a SAD diagnosis is made.

Chemical response to light:

There is a medical model to explain how the seasonal changes can cause SAD. According to this "model", the changes of the cerebral functions are considered in the same way as any other organ's deficiencies -the pancreas in diabetes for example. The diabetic's pancreas produces too little insulin; the SAD sufferers pineal gland produces too much melatonin. The diabetic is helped with insulin; the person with SAD is helped through light therapy.

Disorders - Seasonal Affective Disorder