What Is Seasonal Affective Disorder
Madonna resides in Anytown, USA, where the fall and wintertimes are not known for being full of sunshine and blue skies-rather they are obscure, sunless and quite gloomy. Madonna dreaded the coming fall; even the changing colors on the trees did little to brighten her mood. As fall would move into winter her mood would darken along with the skies. She despised how she felt but never fully realized exactly why she became so demoralized every fall and winter.
Madonna went to see her doctor and told her about her symptoms. Madonna found out she was suffering from SAD, or Seasonal Affective Disorder.
Seasonal Affective Disorder is a kind of natural depression, with symptoms leading off as the daytimes become shorter and darker and get worsen as time goes on. Symptoms include the following:
1. Depression
2. Anxiousness
3. Hopelessness
4. Weight gain
5. Craving for sugars
6. Difficulty concentrating
7. Sleeping too much
8. Not wanting to socialized
If these symptoms are cyclical in nature and commence only in the fall and becomes worsen as the wintertime approaches, you could be suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder.
The exact cause of SAD is not known, but it is assumed that as with most mental health disorders, that genetics, age and your own physical makeup may all play a part in this disorder.
A lot of research seems to show that a deficiency of serotonin, a chemical in the brain that affects mood, could play a role. When sunlight is reduced it causes a drop in serotonin levels which may cause clinical depression.
A different theory is that your circadian rhythms are disrupted during the fall and winter months for many people. Your circadian rhythm is like your internal clock, modulating when you sleep and when you wake up. If your natural clock is disrupted it can lead to Seasonal Affective Disorder.
Melatonin is a sleep-related hormone and during long winter nights its output is increased. Melatonin has been linked to clinical depression and is therefore reckoned to be a perpetrator in those who develop Seasonal Affective Disorder.
You are most likely to develop Seasonal Affective Disorder if you live in the northern regions where you get less sunshine during winter months. You are less likely to have SAD if you are under the age of 20 and you are more at risk for it if you are a woman rather than a man. Although a genetic factor has not been found, you are also more likely to suffer from it if you have a family member who also suffer from it.
Treatments for Seasonal Affective Disorder include light therapy, anti-depressants and psychotherapy. Only your doctor can determine if you’re suffering from SAD. Just like its close cousin depression, symptoms of SAD can be pronounced and severe. If left untreated it can interfere with everyday activities and in some drastic cases lead to thoughts of suicide. See help if you believe you’re suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder.
