Seasons

Ok, well it's no secret that I have SAD, or seasonal affective disorder. I have noticed it getting worse each year, as well as having an earlier onset each year. This year, I started to notice hints of it in August. Why so early? Probably because I was starting to think about the Autumn being just around the corner, then the dreaded winter. Forecasts for a bitterly cold winter have not helped ease my mind at all. So, this post is really to just tell you all about SAD. I know I'm not the only one with it, everyone gets some type of "winter blues".

I manage to being to fend it off with the impending festivities of Thanksgiving and Christmas. Our house is usually the center of activity this time of year. I know that after New Years if will probably kick in full strength again. I can only hope that with the impending move, that will keep me busy enough to not focus on it.

Well, for the benefit of everyone, below is some helpful information about seasonal affective disorder. I got the bulk of it from my nursing and psych texts, so it's accurate. I'm not another looney toon out on the net posting misinformation.

Symptoms tend to start from around September and last until April. However, symptoms are at their worst in the darkest months. For some people, these symptoms cause a considerable disruption in their lives.

Symptoms include:

• Sleep problems - oversleeping but not refreshed, cannot get out of bed, needing a nap in the afternoon
• Overeating
  
• Depression, despair, misery, guilt, anxiety - normal tasks become frustratingly difficult
• Family or social problems - avoiding company, irritability, loss of libido, loss of feeling
• Lethargy - too tired to cope, everything an effort
• Physical symptoms - often joint pain or stomach problems, lowered resistance to infection

The problem stems from the lack of bright light in winter. Researchers have proved that bright light makes a difference to the brain chemistry. What's not clear is why some people suffer and others don't.