As Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a clinical condition, you need to take serious notice of it. For some people, SAD or the Winter Blues can present as mild depression while for others it can take the form of a deep depression. It stops many people from carrying out their normal routine tasks, and makes them feel miserable. SAD is basically associated with winter, and is caused by a lack of daylight. Some experts believe that the cold weather also influence the activity of people, and makes them lethargic.
To be sure, if you are suffering from clinical SAD, you need to look for certain symptoms. Moreover, you also have to check these over time to be sure of the diagnosis. Some common symptoms of SAD include oversleeping, cravings for carbohydrates, weight gain and depression. Some people also feel extremely irritated, guilty and miserable. Some just do not feel like socialising.
If you are suffering from the Winter Blues, you should not worry too much, as there are many ways to cope with this condition. To begin with, you can lessen your SAD by sleeping with your bedroom curtains partially open. This is because when you draw them completely, you create an artificially darkened room for yourself. As you are already having a problem with a lack of light, drawing your curtains will amplify the problem even more.
Another way to cope with SAD is to go out during the middle of the day. You should stay in the open for about 15 -30 minutes. If you are at work during these hours, you should go out during lunch time. To your surprise, it will have a great effect on your mood. Even if it is drizzling, you should try to get out of your home or workplace, as staying in all day in winter enhances your SAD.
Since SAD is related to lack a of light, you should use many lights within your home. You should make sure that there is sufficient lighting in your room, so that you can get the amount of light that is required by your body. You can find many products that can help you in creating artificial light. These can be side lamps, dawn stimulators and light boxes. In medical terms, it is called light therapy and it is known as the best treatment for the Winter Blues.
Besides this, another method to conquer SAD is to wake up early in the morning. If you sleep for long, you may feel even more depressed and can affect you for the whole day.
You can also find a number of medications that can help you with SAD. These include non-sedative SSRI drugs like Paroxetine, Lustral and Prozac. You must keep in mind that psychotropic medications, including lithium and benzodiazepines, are not very useful for treating the Winter Blues.
Just as all with disorders, Seasonal Affective Disorder is also an illness and requires your attention. If the symptoms are mild, you may take it lightly, however, if it begins to
