Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), also called seasonal depression, is a mood disorder characterized by depression that occurs yearly, which worsens when the climate changes, mainly during the winter.
Symptoms:
- Fatigue
- Helplessness
- Social withdrawal
- Loss of interest
About five percent of adults in the US population experience SAD. Typically this ranges from ages eighteen to thirty.
But full SAD goes beyond this. It’s a form of depression. Unlike the winter blues, SAD affects your daily life, including how you feel and think. Fortunately, treatment can help you get through this challenging time.
Who is at risk?
Having other mood disorders, bipolar disorder, or other mental health conditions like schizophrenia.
Treatment
So, with so many people struggling through this, what are the treatment options? Things like Cognitive Behavior Therapy – a talk therapy focused on modifying negative thoughts, behaviors and emotional responses associated with psychological distress. And Light Therapy – exposure to bright light using a device called a light box. which mimics natural sunlight
Sources
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9293-seasonal-depression
