Ever notice your mood shifting with the seasons? Do you sleep more than usual once the leaves begin turning? Are you eating alot more or less than usual when the temperatures dip? Do you lose the zest for the things you once couldn’t get enough of near year’s end?
That may be because of a condition that affects up to one in ten Americans. As winter commences, days grow shorter. Therefore, there is less sun out to supply people with mood boosting Vitamin D.
Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is a type of depression that affects a person during the same season each year. If you get depressed in the winter but feel much better in spring and summer, you may have SAD.
Anyone can get SAD, but it is more common in:
- People who live in areas where winter days are very short or there are big changes in the amount of daylight in different seasons.
- Women.
- People between the ages of 15 and 55. The risk of getting SAD for the first time goes down as you age.
- People who have a close relative with SAD.
If someone is suffering from SAD, they should make sure to monitor their diet, sleep and social habits and get as much sun as possible. They should also talk with a health care professional to see if they suffer from SAD.