Winter Gloom Is Upon Us
February can be the longest month especially if your mood dips as the seasons change. Seasonal affective disorder or SAD occurs when a lack of sunlight disrupts the body's circadian and serotonin cycles. It is a real form of depression. SAD is considered a form of recurrent major depressive disorder by the American Psychological Association (APA). It usually begins in the fall, with symptoms worsening during the winter months, and improving in the spring and summer. Sometimes the opposite occurs; individuals experience mood problems in the spring and summer, and feel fine during the winter. People often seek the help of a therapist or enter psychotherapy in an effort to ease their symptoms. Many often need medication and alternative treatments such as light therapy. Alternative treatments are helpful and powerfully effective, and should be used with the support of a medical profession or experienced clinician as they can trigger mania in some individuals. If you're feeling sad and blue this season, learn more about getting the help you need and some good, available options. Read more from The Doctor Will See You Now