SAD

SAD; Seasonal Affective Disorder

It is the time of year that Seasonal Affective Disorder usually affects millions of people worldwide.  Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD as it is prominently referred to more than adequately describes this condition.  SAD is a mood disorder that is also known as winter or summer depression or more commonly as the "Winter Blues" or "Summertime Blues".  It usually effects women more than men and the people effected have normal mental health most of the year, but experience this depression in the winter months sometimes overlapping into the spring time and rarely instances occur during the summer months.  If this condition occurs during the summer months it is usually referred to as reverse SAD and can be accompanied by heightened feelings of anxiety along with the depression.  Some studies have linked it with bipolar depression.  There are several symptoms that differentiate this mood disorder from other types of depression.

• Difficulty waking up in the morning Wanting to sleep all of the time.

• A tendency to oversleep and over eat.

• Weight gain usually caused by an increased craving for carbohydrates.

• A lack of energy and a problem finishing tasks.

• Withdrawal from family and friends as well as social events.

• A decreased libido (decreased sex drive).

All of these lead to a poor outlook on life generally leading to further depression.  These seasonal variations in mood are thought to be directly related to light.  That's right, this mood disorder can be correlated with the exposure to diminished sunlight.  That is why it usually occurs during the winter months when the sun appears for a shorter period of time in the sky.  As, the days are shorter during these months the cases increase.  The incidents also increase in numbers as people live further away from the equator.  Studies in the United States show its incidents effects less than 1.5% of the population, while people who live in New Hampshire and Vermont have an incidents of over 7.5%.  Other studies have shown the incidents to be over 14% in Nordic Countries.

Treatment for seasonal affective disorder tries to deal with the symptoms that initiate the disorder which include, but are not limited to light therapy (phototherapy), psychotherapy and medications. Don't brush off that yearly feeling as simply a case of the "winter blues" or a seasonal funk that you have to tough out on your own. Take steps to keep your mood and motivation steady throughout the year.  Remember there are treatment modalities.  Reiterating there are treatments such as light box therapy, ionized-air administration, prescription supplementation of the (OTC) hormone melatonin which should only be performed by a qualified physician who has specific knowledge as to the dosage and time it needs to be administered as well as a few specific prescription drugs and homeopathic medications, and behavior modification.  It is my recommendation that you talk to you healthcare professional or have them refer you to a specialist.  I also recommend that you perform your own search on the Internet to obtain valuable information that this article has not included. Who knows it could save your life or enhance the quality of care your are looking for. Remember never try to treat yourself. See you primary care physician explaining all your symptoms and let him see if you need to be referred to a specialist to treat this condition. Do not let your your doctor diagnose you and dismiss the symptoms you have explained to him or her.  If you do not feel comfortable it is your right to be referred to a specialist.