Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression suffered by many in the winter months.
Like year-round depression, it can be mild, making you feel a bit down and lethargic, or it can be intense, interferring with your day-to-day activities.
And like year-round depression, it’s important to take your symptoms seriously, invest in lifestyle changes and self-help to improve your mood, and also to recognise when you need professional support.
According to the Seasonal Affective Disorder Association (SADA), 21% of the us will notice a real change in mood and attitude over winter, and a further 8% will need treatment.
Symptoms
True diagnosis of SAD can only be made after a few winters – but that doesn’t mean you can’t do something about it sooner. Here are some signs to look out for.
Depression – this can include experiencing negative thoughts, feeling apathetic and having a consistently low mood.
Lack of interest – losing interest in work, your hobbies, friends, sex is a sign all is not right.
Anxiety in general is often a symptom.
Physical symptoms can include lack of sleep and difficulty sleeping through the night, feeling constantly tired, suffering more winter illnesses than normal, having difficulty concentrating or feeling that your brain’s just not working properly.
Plus overeating and weight gain are common.
Important too, is noticing how you feel in the spring – do you suddenly feel a fog lift? Is your mood noticeably better? This is a clear sign that you suffer from SAD.
Read the full article here: https://www.yahoo.com/news/signs-you-might-have-sad-and-what-to-do-151731459.html