It's common knowledge that plants flourish when it's bright and sunny, and wilt when it's cold and dark. Humans can be affected in the same manner as plants, come the change in seasons.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) affects approximately six hundred thousand people in Canada, with around three per cent of the population suffering from seasonal depression. A staggering 75 per cent of those diagnosed with SAD are women. Positive Options for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) by Fiona Marshall and Peter Cheevers (Hunter House, 2003) offers several natural and medical solutions to help ease the symptoms for those suffering from SAD.
How do you know whether you're just having a bad week, or if it's SAD? At some point, many people experience some of the feelings and behaviors listed below. Many of these symptoms can indicate other forms of depression. Bear in mind that the first six in particular distinguish SAD from other conditions. Some research suggests that SAD symptoms may become worse in the late afternoon, as dusk falls. This is another factor to consider when monitoring your feelings.
1. Depression that starts and stops suddenly at regular times of the year
2. Eating more than usual
3. Craving carbohydrates and sweets
4. Weight gain as a result of satisfying these cravings
5. Extreme tiredness
6. Sleeping more than usual
7. Lack of energy and loss of interest in activities
8. Sleep disturbance
9. Feelings of sadness and hopelessness
10. Cognitive problems; difficulty concentrating and making decisions. Tasks you previously found simple now seem complicated
11. Drinking more alcohol than usual
12. Drinking more coffee and tea than usual
13. Anxiety, tension, and low tolerance of stress
14. Phobias
15. Irritability
16. Social withdrawal
17. Blaming others or circumstances
18. Wanting to stay at home rather than go out
19. Loss of libido
20. Menstrual problems. Premenstrual tension may be worse than usual, with attendant irritability, sleep problems, appetite changes, and low energy levels
21. Low body temperature
22. Minor physical ailments, such as increased sensitivity to pain, headaches, muscle and joint pain; digestive problems such as irritable bowel, constipation, diarrhea; palpitations and night sweats
23. More prone to infections such as colds and flu
24. Keener sense of smell, and changes in taste
 | Excerpted from Positive Options for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) by Fiona Marshall and Peter Cheevers copyright 2003 by Hunter House Publishers. Excerpted, with permission by Hunter House Publishers. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher. |
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