| Seasonal affective disorder, otherwise known as SAD | | | | above should consult their counselor or a therapist. A |
| affects many people every year. This type of | | | | self-diagnosis is never one that should be seen as a |
| depression is often found among those who go | | | | 100 percent accurate. Going to a professional |
| through bouts of depression that seem to occur in a | | | | counselor for help is probably the best thing to do as |
| pattern related to the seasons and time of year, hence | | | | they are knowledgeable about this and can determine |
| the name seasonal affective disorder. Winter appears | | | | if it is SAD a person is suffering from or some other |
| to be the season to bring on seasonal affective | | | | type of depression. Many different types of |
| disorder as a result of the lack of sun and the cold, | | | | depressions can often share similar symptoms. Online |
| dreary whether. For this reason it is found to affect | | | | therapy or phone consultation are available if going to |
| people more in the northern climates where there are | | | | see a counselor in person is not possible, or easy for |
| longer periods of dark, cold and long winters. | | | | the individual to do so that people can get the help |
| How does a person determine if they are suffering | | | | they need. SAD affects many people every year and |
| from seasonal affective disorder? Well, there is | | | | can often be helped by light therapies and/or medicinal |
| always the option of searching the internet for some | | | | therapies that a therapist might suggest after they |
| information about SAD to get a better understanding | | | | have confirmed that it is, in fact, seasonal affective |
| about it and its symptoms. A person can always | | | | disorder the patient is suffering from. |
| contact an online therapist, or consult a counselor by | | | | What is light therapy? Light therapy is a relatively new |
| phone to find out more about it. Some of the | | | | therapy used for patients who have seasonal |
| symptoms a person with this type of depression | | | | affective disorder. It has been tested in comparison |
| include a change in a person’s eating habits, a | | | | with some of the medicinal treatments available and it |
| change in a person’s sleeping patterns, loss interest | | | | has been found that about half of the patients |
| in activities they would normally want to be involved in, | | | | responded better to the light therapy than they did to |
| and even fatigue that no amount of sleep seems to | | | | the medicinal therapy. The pluses of the light therapy |
| help. December is the month when one or more of | | | | are obvious with the benefit of not having to worry |
| these symptoms may start to appear and then, for | | | | about the side effects of medication. In light therapy, a |
| many, it can get worse in January. In the case with | | | | person sets up a panel with fluorescent lights in a |
| anyone suffering this type of depression, their | | | | room where they can read, write or watch television |
| symptoms will disappear as the days grow warmer | | | | while they go through the treatment. The length of the |
| and longer. | | | | session depends on the patient and how affected |
| Is there a treatment for seasonal affective disorder? | | | | they are by the depression. It can be as short as |
| There is. Anyone who believes they might be suffering | | | | fifteen minutes once or twice a day, to about three |
| from this depression because they seem to be | | | | hours once or twice a day. |
| suffering one or more of the symptoms mentioned | | | | |