Here’s how to know if you are suffering with SAD (Seasonal affective disorder)

Here’s how to know if you are suffering with SAD ( Seasonal affective disorder) And to how to cope up with it

As the darker evenings draw in, so does the inescapable feelings of depression, exhaustion and anxiety for those suffering with SAD.

People with seasonal affective disorder struggle to get out of bed in the morning and both their concentration levels and confidence crash.

SAD SYMPTOMS appear during late fall or early winter and go away during the sunnier days of spring and summer. Less commonly, people with the opposite pattern have symptoms they begin in spring and summer. On either cases, symptoms may start out mild and become more severe as the season progresses.

SAD is a type of depression correlating with seasonal change, thought to be linked with the reduced light that winter brings. According to a survey, SAD hits 3% of the UK population and is 4 times more likely to affect women than men. This is a syndrome which strikes as soon as summer ends and sunlight diminishes, a low mood every autumn and winter specifically can be a sign.

SAD SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS

• Feeling depressed most of the day, nearly everyday.
• Losing interest in activities you once enjoyed
• Having low energy
• Having problems with sleeping
• Feeling sluggish or agitated
• Experiencing appetite change or weight
• Having difficulty concentrating
• Feeling hopeless, worthless or guilty
• Having frequent thoughts of death or suicide

Treatments that might work for SAD:
Medication: Antidepressants have proven to be effective for people with SAD, especially those with intense symptoms medication requires patience, as it takes several weeks before you begin to feel the effects. Its also important not to stop taking the medication if you feel better. Consult with your doctor before you change your dosage. And let him know if you experience any side effects.

Psychotherapy
Talk therapy can be an invaluable option for those with SAD. A psychotherapy can help you identify patterns in negative thinking and behaviour that impact depression, learn positive ways of coping with symptoms, and institute relaxation techniques that can help you restore lost energy.

Light therapy
Phototherapy involves exposing oneself to light via a special box or lamp. This device produces similar effects to natural light, triggering chemicals in your brain that help regulate your mood. This treatment has proven effective especially for those who experience the winter versions of SAD.