Do You Have Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)?
Sometimes, the weather outside is frightful but our lives are not so delightful. During the winter months, we become susceptible to low moods and depressive modes that are easy to fall into, and very difficult to climb out of. If you are feeling these symptoms often during the fall and winter months, you may have Seasonal Affective Disorder.
SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER SYMPTOMS
Seasonal Affective Disorder is characterized by several symptoms. Some of the more common symptoms include a significant lack in energy, feeling lethargic or constantly needing sleep. Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, is also characterized by an increase in appetite, followed by weight gain.
Other symptoms are more psychological. Intense anxiety, withdrawal from friends and family, difficulty focusing and concentrating on tasks are common to seasonal affective disorder sufferers. Women may experience increased PMS symptoms. In fact women are most susceptable to SAD as 70% to 80% of SAD victims are women.
Some typical SAD symptoms include:
* mood problems only occur during the fall and winter, disappearing in spring and summer
* chronic sadness
* excessive sleep
* loss of energy
* deep regret
* loss of motivation
* lack of interest in friends and family
* excessive weight gain
* no motivation
Seasonal affective disorder like any other mood disorder can be complicated and there may be more than one treatment for curing SAD.
Geography can also play a factor in contracting this disorder. People who live in extreme northern areas or extreme southern areas are more likely to contract SAD than others. Long winters and lack of light can contribute. Light therapy can be used to help those with SAD cope with the symptoms and achieve a normal lifestyle.
SAD QUIZ
Do you have SAD? If you are curious of you suffer from SAD (seasonal affective disorder), ask yourself a few questions:
1. Are your feelings about the weather actively inhibiting your life?
2. Are you so unhappy that you’re unable to perform basic tasks?
3. Are you sleeping significantly more hours per night, and do you still have trouble waking in the morning?
4. Has your spouse or your boss complained about your change in behavior?
4. Has your spouse or your boss complained about your change in behavior?
5. Do you feel seriously depressed only in fall and winter (as opposed to simply grumpy or out of sorts)?
If you answer yes to most of these questions, it is possible you are experiencing seasonal affective disorder. The good news is that SAD is curable. There are numerous treatments used to remove SAD symptoms and bring normalcy back to your life.
LIGHT THERAPY FOR SAD TREATMENT
You will find that psychotherapy, drugs and SAD therapy lights are the three most common treatments for SAD. As it turns out SAD light therapy is one of the most effective and least expensive treatments found for SAD thus far. Non invasive, no side effects and easy to self administer SAD lamps are some of the benefits. For some simply sitting beside one of these special light boxes for a few minutes a day is enough to alleviate SAD symptoms. Look for web sites that discuss light therapy usage online with guides and ideas for SAD light usage, treatment schedule and SAD light shopping tips.