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Seasonal Affective Disorder Symptoms

by Sandra Williams

This is a guest post written by Derek Williams.

Depressed:Steve KnightSeasonal Affective Disorder (or S.A.D.) is a chemical imbalance causing depression that usually occurs in the winter months. The imbalance is due to lack of natural sunlight and the short days of winter sunlight that affect the hypothalamus of the brain.

It is estimated that half a million people suffer from S.A.D. during the winter months and many more have systems that are border-line depression caused by the lack of sunlight during this season. The milder cases of depression are called subsyndromal S.A.D. or the “winter blues”.

The symptoms of S.A.D. usually occur starting between September and November and continuing through March or April.

S.A.D. symptoms include (but are not limited to) :

  • Mood swings- From depression to hypomania in some cases are an indication of S.A.D.
  • Loss of Sex Drive- A noticeable decrease in the libido and physical contact.
  • Attacks of Anxiety- Tension and a lower tolerance to the minor mishaps of daily living.
  • Social Issues- A desire to avoid social contact and problems when doing so.
  • Depression- Feelings of inadequacy, low self esteem, unexplained guilt, sadness, loss, and hopelessness.
  • Overeating- Cravings for food (usually sweet) that tend to lead to weight gain.
  • Lethargy- Feelings that one cannot carry out daily tasks because of tiredness and an inability to get the energy to function normally.
  • Sleeping Disorders- Either sleeping too much or the inability to get a normal night’s sleep. Some people report early morning wakefulness.

S.A.D sufferers usually have weakened immune systems and tend to fall victim to more infections that do most people.

There is hope for those who suffer from S.A.D. Light therapy and anti-depressants have been effective in many cases, and the S.A.D sufferer can once again be a happy, productive member of society.

For more help or information see:


Posted in General, SAD on April 22nd, 2008

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Explore mental and emotional health issues including mood disorders, depression, anxiety and anger problems. We’ll also keep up with the latest scientific research on developments related to mental health. Stress, physical illnesses and pain can trigger negative feelings and despair but we’ll focus on how to cope through those difficult times.

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