Are You Struggling with Seasonal Affective Disorder?

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) — sometimes known as the “winter blues” — is an “equal-opportunity oppressor,” according to Norman Rosenthal, M.D., in his comprehensive book Winter Blues Survival Guide: A Workbook for Overcoming SAD. This form of clinical depression affects people of all ages — even kids — races and ethnic groups. Fortunately, SAD is highly treatable. One of the keys to managing the disorder is knowing your personal pattern of symptoms. This plays a big role in how you’ll treat your disorder. For instance, if your symptoms last during several months of winter, then light therapy may be all you need, said Dr. Rosenthal, who, along with his team at the National Institute of Mental Health, first described SAD and pioneered the use of light therapy for the disorder. But if you have depression all year long, and it worsens during the wintertime, you might need light therapy and antidepressants, he says. Spotting your patterns also helps you plan ahead. When you have a good idea of when you’re going to experience symptoms of seasonal affective disorder, you can make sure that you’re prepared and have the necessary resources at your disposal. In his workbook Rosenthal features in-depth questionnaires and tools to help you better understand your symptoms, plan ahead and manage SAD. For instance, he includes these questions to help readers become more aware of their symptoms. “When during the year do you first notice...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatrists and Psychologists Authors: Tags: Antidepressant Books Depression Disorders General Medications Mental Health and Wellness Self-Help Treatment Bupropion Major Depressive Disorder Sad Seasonal Affective Disorder Solstice Sunlight Winter Blues Winter Depressi Source Type: blogs