What is Seasonal Affective Disorder?
Seasonal affective disorder is a pattern of depression or depression-like symptoms that affect its sufferers following seasonal, light, and climate shifts. Also known as SAD, seasonal affective disorder generally takes its toll on persons during the fall and winter months and is known to affect over 10 million Americans. Typical symptoms of seasonal affective disorder include lethargy, depression, mood swings, and weight gain or loss.
Seasonal affective disorder is typically felt during the autumn and winter months. Only a very small percentage of SAD sufferers experience the condition during the spring or summer. The onslaught of seasonal affective disorder can appear as early as mid Autumn and can last as long as mid Spring; causing some extreme sufferers to feel its effects for half the year. Furthermore, there have been cases of SAD-prone people experiencing symptoms year round when confined in buildings with a lack of windows or no windows at all. The shift from a SAD-induced state of depression into the relative peace of the spring and summer months can sometimes induce a manic reaction in sufferers that can require medicinal treatment such as mood stabilizers. Some extreme cases of seasonal affective disorder require hospitalization.
The demographic criterion for seasonal affective disorder sufferers has been relatively thoroughly established. More than 75% of seasonal affective disorder sufferers are female, and they are typically over thirty years old. Additionally, it is generally reported that the higher north a population is located geographically, the greater the percentage of seasonal affective disorder victims located in that population. Furthermore, someone that has never had SAD symptoms before can start experiencing them after relocating to a point more north than they had been before or even by spending more time indoors, away from windows.It is estimated that nearly half of all Americans can be affected by mood shifts that can be attributed to seasonal changes, but seasonal affective disorder patients suffer from these symptoms on a much greater scale. For instance, it is well known that many Americans generally get a case of “the blues” following the Holidays every year. However, seasonal affective disorder patients suffer from bouts that last far longer and are much more severe.
Treatment options are available for seasonal affective disorder and have varying degrees of success. Since the symptoms of SAD recur yearly, treatment timelines are typically indefinite and strict treatment schedules must be adhered to for the full term to avoid relapse.
