You may be wondering why at certain times of the year you unexpectedly fall into a mild to deep depression. Out of nowhere you suddenly feel despair, loneliness and even have a difficult time getting out of bed. There are no indications as to why you feel this way. Everything in your life seems fine and you are surrounded by loving, supportive people. So therefore you wonder, why the gloom?
These unexplained symptoms were recognized by the psychiatric community as recently as 1984 which became known as Seasonal Affective Disorder or, more appropriately, SAD. Although there is no official test to determine a SAD diagnosis, it is usually attributed to symptoms reacting to the slow change from light to dark and warm to cold during the winter months. However, SAD can also be experienced when the season changes from winter into spring and sometimes spring into summer, however winter is the most prominent time.
Duration
SAD usually begins around mid to late September and can hang on all the way through November. The good news is that this condition usually dissipates as the season gets into full swing and the body adjusts accordingly. [Read more…]
Originally posted on October 20, 2011 @ 9:44 am