Understanding Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that usually happens in fall and winter, and can cause heightened anxiety. If anxiety is the most prominent symptom, this condition is sometimes called seasonal anxiety disorder. However, depressive symptoms are most likely.
Symptoms of SAD include:
- Feeling irritable and struggling to get along with others
- Changes in appetite and gaining weight
- Feeling tired and sleeping more than usual
- Feeling like your extremities are heavy
- Feeling very emotional or sensitive, particularly about any type of rejection
Spending more time outside in natural light, or at the very least spending time near a window, is one of the best ways to combat SAD. Regular exercise and eating well are also important steps to take to boost your mood, in addition to any treatments recommended by your doctor.
Read more about SAD below.
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