Advertisement
According to Karen Swartz, here’s how to recognize seasonal affective disorder (SAD):
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is characterized by recurring bouts of major depression that usually coincide with the shorter daylight hours of autumn and winter. Though a person with SAD may have depressive episodes at other times of the year, the number of seasonal episodes significantly outnumbers the non-seasonal ones.
For an episode of major depression to be classified as SAD, there should be at least three episodes of mood disturbance in three separate winter seasons, at least two of which are consecutive. There should be no association between disturbance and situation stresses, such as being unemployed each winter.
A major depression, seasonal or otherwise, is characterized by the following symptoms [my note here: also remember the "atypical" symptoms I listed last week that can occur especially in men]:
• Sad, depressed, or irritable mood
• Changes in appetite or weight
• Sleep problems
• Lack of energy
• Inability to make decisions
• Problems concentrating
• Low self-esteem (feelings of worthlessness or guilt)
• Lack of interest in or enjoyment of activities
• Diminished sex drive
• Bodily aches and pains
• Memory loss
• Suicidal thoughts
* Click here to subscribe to Beyond Blue and click here to follow Therese on Twitter and click here to join Group Beyond Blue, a depression support group. Now stop clicking.
|
Previous Posts
Therapy Thursday: Sweat
posted 6:01:57am Feb. 09, 2012 | read full post »
Scrupulosity: What It Is and Why It's Dangerous
posted 6:17:35am Feb. 07, 2012 | read full post »
The Treasures of Darkness
posted 6:06:40am Feb. 06, 2012 | read full post »
On Groundhog Day: 12 Winter Depression Busters
posted 6:30:47am Feb. 02, 2012 | read full post »
6 Ways to Stay Resilient in Stress
posted 6:00:24am Jan. 31, 2012 | read full post » |
|
||
|
|
||
| click here to see all of our uplifting newsletters» |
Meet others on the journey in
Therese’s community group
Ask Therese to be your friend
Therese J. Borchard writes the daily blog, Beyond Blue, on Beliefnet and is a regular contributor to the award-winning blog, World of Psychology, on Psych Central. Therese is the author of Beyond Blue: Surviving Depression & Anxiety and Making the Most of Bad Genes and The Pocket Therapist: An Emotional Survival Kit. Subscribe to Beyond Blue, visit her website, or follow her on Twitter @thereseborchard.
Meet others on the journey in
Therese’s community group
Ask Therese to be your friend
Therese J. Borchard writes the daily blog, Beyond Blue, on Beliefnet and is a regular contributor to the award-winning blog, World of Psychology, on Psych Central. Therese is the author of Beyond Blue: Surviving Depression & Anxiety and Making the Most of Bad Genes and The Pocket Therapist: An Emotional Survival Kit. Subscribe to Beyond Blue, visit her website, or follow her on Twitter @thereseborchard.
posted November 2, 2007 at 4:48 pm
I’ve recently read that Vitamin D is good for SAD.
posted November 5, 2007 at 12:38 pm
Sounds like the symptoms of pregnancy….
posted November 5, 2007 at 7:24 pm
I fixed an inexpensive light three years ago. I went to wal-mart got an under the cabinet light fixture(13″) and a full spectrum flourescent bulb. I truly feel it’s made a difference for me, as one who ghas suffered with SAD for years.
posted November 5, 2007 at 8:26 pm
I get it every year. I already went to the doctor for an antidepressent in the beginning of october. come spring I’m fine
posted November 7, 2007 at 6:40 pm
I have read that taking Fish Oil can help releave symptoms. Also light therapy (stare at flourescent bulb for 20 minutes first thing in the morning when you wake up. The study said it must be immediately when you first wake up, everyday. the article I read said that a study was done and the light therapy had the same results as taking anti-depressents, with any of the side effects!)
posted March 26, 2008 at 10:55 am
Hi, i got interested because there are two important people in my life who according to me are experiencing SAD. Only when i read about the vitamin and the oil i realised one of the two people are taking that almost on their everyday life. This person is important to me and don’t know how i would help even by just understanding that he/she has SAD.How do i start the conversation with him? pls help
posted February 5, 2009 at 5:25 am
Living in Florida, and experiencing intense heat constantly, I find that I annually experience SAD during the late spring and summer months. Anyone else feel the same way?
posted November 2, 2009 at 2:11 am
Regular exposure to light that is bright, particularly fluorescent light, significantly improves depression in people with seasonal affective disorder that presents during the fall and winter. The light treatment is used daily in the morning and evening for best results.