Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), the name for depressive feelings brought on by the different seasons, is reported to affect two million people in the UK and more than 12 million people in NortherEurope. Considering here in the UK, cold weather and short days takeover a considerable amount of our entire year, this could make for a miserable time over the next few months.
What exactly is SAD?
SAD can rear its head, more commonly in the winter months when the light is low and there is a chill in the air. You may have experienced it as the alarm disturbs you on a cold dark morning like a noisy fog horn and you’re hit with a sensation of fatigue and a distinct lack of enthusiasm to do anything other than pull the duvet over your head. People can feel the effects of SAD more strongly than others from mild fatigue to suffering major depressive moods.
Common symptoms of SAD include:
- Difficulty waking up in the morning
- Nausea
- Tendency to oversleep and over eat
- Craving for carbohydrates
- Weight gain
- Lack of energy
- Difficulty concentrating
- Withdrawal from friends, family, and social activities
- Decreased sex drive
- Depression
- Feelings of hopelessness
