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SAD Symptoms ? What Seasonal Affective Disorder Means To You |
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Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD is a disorder that
affects many during specific seasons of the year. There are various
causes behind this disorder, many of which can be solved through
different means. But first of all, one need to find out what SAD really
means. This way one can find effective ways to treat the disorder. This
way, you will be able to function better with friends and family as well
as at work. It allow you to enjoy every season of the year.
Usually, seasonal affective disorder occurs during the winter
seasons. Christmas time and the colder months often bring a feeling of
sadness, depression or anxiety. At a physical level, this occurs because
of the weather outside. It becomes colder more often. The sun also isn’t
up as much, causing more darkness to be around us for longer amounts of
time. Most will find that they are waking up when it is completely dark
and driving home from work in the dark as well. If there has been a
tragic event that has occurred during this time of year, it will
reinforce the seasonal affective disorder.
The first signs of
seasonal affective disorder are a loss of interest and activities that
are occurring around you. It is possible that you will find it hard to
work or spend time with friends and loved ones. You may also have
physical changes that occur as a result. This usually includes an
imbalance in eating. You may crave more food than is normal, including
sweets and starchy foods. This craving of food becomes uncontrollable
and often is used a way out of approaching the feelings of depression
that are occurring inside of you. While wanting more food in the winter
seasons is often natural, an imbalance in desiring these foods is often
a sign of SAD.
Another sign of seasonal affective disorder is a
change in your sleep patterns. If you are finding it harder to wake up
in the mornings and want to oversleep at nights, then this is often a
sign of SAD. You may also swing towards not being able to sleep as much
and staying restless throughout the night as well as the day.
If
you do not recognize and treat seasonal affective disorder, then it can
begin to affect those around you as well as your own functioning, both
at work and at home. While others are enjoying the winter season, you
may find yourself feeling sad and alone. This causes a loss in enjoying
the holidays. You may also become more ineffective in the work area,
making it harder to complete tasks as well as relate to your co-workers.
If you do not want to affect those around you, then there are several
ways in which you can approach and change this seasonal affective
disorder.
The most common method that is used is known as bright
light therapy. This type of therapy has been used for centuries for
people who live in colder and darker climates. For the past fifteen
years, it has been researched in order to become more effective for
those suffering from SAD. The first and most common way to use light
therapy is by taking a bright light and sitting under it for thirty
minutes a day when you wake up. There are light boxes that are available
for this therapy to allow the right angles and brightness of the light
to be used. Usually, the response towards light therapy will take
between one and four weeks. There are also several other versions of
light therapy that you can use in order to minimize the effects of
seasonal affective disorder.
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