Seasonal Affective Disorder
Definition
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is an extreme form of the "winter blahs." True forms of this disorder are unusual; most people with "cabin fever" do not have SAD.
If you do have it, you tend to sleep a great deal in the winter. You may gain a great deal of weight because you gorge on carbohydrates. Low on energy and highly irritable, you get many headaches, feel very stressed, and may have crying spells. The cause of SAD is not yet known, but it may be linked to your body's biological clock, which controls temperature and hormone production. It usually begins in adolescents or young adults and is more common among women than men. Some people outgrow it, but it may last a lifetime.
Symptoms
- Depression caused by a specific season of the year, most often winter.
- Headaches, irritability, low energy level.
- Crying spells.
Conventional Treatment
A recent innovation in the treatment of SAD uses fluorescent bulbs for light therapy. Patients may read, but not sleep, for several hours a day in front of specially designed, bright lights. The symptoms usually subside within a few days, but reappear if therapy stops. Researchers are investigating the use of full-spectrum light bulbs to extend the hours of sunlight artificially.
Other Types of Depression
Depression
Major Depressive Disorder
Manic-Depressive Illness
Situational Depression
Suicide (Potential)