Some people experience a serious mood change during the winter months, when there is less natural sunlight. This condition is called seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. SAD is a type of depression. It usually lifts during spring and summer.

1. Fitango Education
Health Topics
Seasonal Affective Disorder
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2. Overview
Some people experience a serious mood
change during the winter months, when there is
less natural sunlight. This
condition is called seasonal affective disorder, or
SAD. SAD is a type of depression. It
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3. Overview
usually lifts during spring and summer.
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4. Symptoms
Not everyone with SAD has the same
symptoms. They include:
-- Sad, anxious or "empty" feelings
-- Feelings of hopelessness and/or pessimism
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5. Symptoms
-- Feelings of guilt, worthlessness or
helplessness
-- Irritability, restlessness
-- Loss of interest or pleasure in activities
you used to enjoy
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6. Symptoms
-- Fatigue and decreased energy
-- Difficulty concentrating, remembering
details and making decisions
-- Difficulty sleeping or oversleeping
-- Changes in weight
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7. Symptoms
-- Thoughts of death or suicide
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8. Treatment
SAD may be effectively treated with light
therapy. But nearly half of people with SAD do not
respond to light therapy
alone. Antidepressant medicines and talk therapy
can reduce SAD symptoms,
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9. Treatment
either alone or combined with light therapy.
Medline
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