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You are here: Home / Chronic Illnesses / Are You SAD?

Are You SAD?

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Do you suffer from SAD?  Not sure what SAD is?  SAD is Seasonal Affective Disorder and it affects nearly half a million people.

SAD is a type of winter depression that affects its victims during the months of September through April. 

SAD is caused by a chemical imbalance in the hypothalamus due to the shortened daylight hours and lack of sunlight in the winter.   

SAD is a very debilitating condition for some and can prevent them from functioning normally without medical treatment.  For those who suffer mildly with SAD, they are referred to as having the “winter blues”.

SYMPTOMS

Sleep problems with the desire to oversleep, lethargy, overeating (craving carbohydrates and sweets), depression, social problems, anxiety, loss of sex drive, and mood changes.

TREATMENT

Light therapy, with exposure to up to 4 hours a day, to sunlight has been shown to offer improvement in 85% of cases diagnosed.  Normal office lighting is not near enough, though.  The minimum dose to treat SAD is 2500 lux. 

Antidepressants (SSRIs) and psychotherapy are also helpful for this illness.

Filed Under: Chronic Illnesses Tagged With: SAD, Seasonal Affective Disorder

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