Learning To Recognize The Symptoms Of Sad
SAD is a depressive disorder that occurs during the fall and winter months when the days are shorter and exposure to sunlight is minimal. Symptoms of SAD seem to get worse over these dark months and then all but disappear when spring, longer days and more sunshine arrives. Typically, overeating refined carbohydrates, weight gain and fatigue are some of the prevalent symptoms.
Some of the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder that a person may experience include a change in eating habits, a change in sleeping patterns, loss of interest in activities they would normally take part in and even overwhelming fatigue that no amount of sleep seems to cure. From late September to December, these are the months when one or more of these symptoms may appear and for many, the symptoms get even worse as January drags on. Yet anyone suffering from this type of seasonal depression knows that their symptoms will disappear with the glorious days of spring, when the days grow longer and the sun shines brighter.
There are effective, all natural treatments for SAD. If you believe that your depression is related to this disorder because your symptoms include those mentioned above, then you should consult a counselor or therapist for help. Though you know yourself and are aware of the symptoms of SAD, a self-diagnosis shouldn’t be completely relied on. Seeking treatment from a professional counselor is a good idea since they are trained and knowledgeable about SAD and can determine if you are suffering from it or from some other type of mood disorder.
Light therapy is a fairly new therapy used for people who have SAD. It has been tested and compared to other medical treatments and it has been found that over half of participants responded better to light treatments than they did to medical intervention therapy. The big plus of a light treatment is that it is natural, with the benefit of no side effects to worry about, as is often the case with pharmaceutical drugs.
Diagnosing SAD can be difficult because symptoms of SAD can mimic other types of depressive mood-related disorders. Rest assured, though, that doctors have guidelines to go by, developed by the American Psychiatric Association, which guide them when diagnosing any mental health disorder. If you are confused by your doctor’s diagnosis or are not sure of his or her opinion, then you will certainly want to get a second opinion.
To learn more about the signs and treatment of all types of depression, visit Depression Help.