Surely you have noticed the chill in the air and the turning of leaves from lush green to yellows, oranges, reds and browns. The cooler weather and beautiful fall colors are a sure sign that fall is here and winter will soon follow. This also means that the amount of daylight we have each day is slowly dwindling. According to Psychology Today, as many as 10 million Americans will start to feel the effects of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a change in mood that happens around the same time each year and affects a person’s ability to function. It’s sometimes referred to as seasonal depression or the winter blues. It can also be attached to a mood disorder diagnosis, like major depressive disorder “with a seasonal pattern.”
SAD is characterized by any combination of the following:
Feelings of sadness or despair
Lack of interest in activities you once enjoyed
Low energy
Feeling agitated or irritable
Difficulty concentrating
Feeling sluggish
Increased thoughts of death or suicideMayo Clinic cites people with winter onset SAD are more likely to display weight gain, craving of high carbohydrate foods, fatigue and sleeping too much. Spring/summer onset SAD, which is less common than winter onset, is more likely to include insomnia, decreased appetite, weight loss or anxiety. The symptoms must be present at about the same time of year for at least two years to be deemed a “seasonal pattern.”
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