Seasonal Affective Disorder Facts

Seasonal Affective Disorder, also known as SAD, can affect all people of all ages in the winter months and even in dull summers. It can be a serious condition that prevents sufferers from living a normal life.

Condition

• Season Affective Disorder is caused by a chemical imbalance in the hypothalamus. This imbalance is triggered by the shortening of the days in autumn and a lack of sunlight in winter.

Symptoms

• The symptoms of SAD are similar to those caused by other depressions such as a feeling of apathy, needing to sleep more than usual, difficulty getting up in the morning, lethargy, feeling slow and irritable, loss of libido and craving foods high in fat and sugar.

Treatment

• Light therapy is the main treatment given to people suffering from SAD. This involves sitting with a specially designed light box up to three feet away and allowing the light to shine directly on to the sufferer's eyes. Medication and counseling can also help.