Seasonal Affective Disorder
By: Kaitlin K
What is Seasonal Affective Disorder?
Seasonal Affective Disorder is a form of depression that appears at the same time each year.
What are some signs or symptoms of SAD?
- Changes in mood a person may feel sad or be in an irritable mood most of the time for at least two weeks during a specific time of year.
- Lack of enjoyment someone with SAD may lose interest in things he or she normally likes to do.
- Low energy unusual tiredness or unexplained fatigue can make you have low energy.
- Changes in sleep a person may sleep more then usual.
- Changes in eating changes in eating and appetite make you crave simple carbohydrates and overeat.
- Difficulty concentrating SAD can affect concentration and interfere with the person's school performance and grades.
- Less time socializing people with SAD may spend less time with friends, in social activities, or in extracurricular activities
How does SAD affect someone?
SAD makes it hard for someone in their everyday life to:
- keep their grades up
- get up to go to school or work
- talk to other people
What are some other types of Seasonal Affective Disorder?
Seasonal Affective Disorder has some symptoms of other diagnoses. They have common symptoms like tiredness, fatigue, and low energy. Some other possible medical conditions could be hypothyroidism, hypoglycemia, or mononucleosis.
How is SAD diagnosed?
SAD is diagnosed through a serious of tests and check ups to make sure the symptoms aren't caused from a medical condition that needs different treatment.
What are some treatments for SAD?
Increased light exposure the symptoms of SAD tend to go away on their own when you spend more time in the light during winter months.
Light therapy the use of a special light to stimulate daylight and reduce major symptoms.
Talk therapy focuses on reducing the negative thoughts or feelings connected to depression and eases the feeling of loneliness
Medication antidepressant medications help balance nerves in the brain that affect the person's mood or energy
What are some interesting facts about SAD?
- Some teachers and parents may think you are just slacking off
- it is a good idea to talk to them so they understand
- listen to your doctor
- be patient, symptoms don't go away quickly
- eat right
- sleep right
- spend time with people you love
- learn about your condition
- get exercise mostly outside