That time of year again....

Do the changing of the leaves bother you? The darker skies of winter torment you? Do you get more depressed during the darker months then you do anytime of the year? If so you may suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Appropriately named don't you think so? The reason I ask is because many of us do and have no idea that it is an actually mental issue. I personally suffer from it, but for me it's when the seasons are bright and beautiful with the sun shining and everything bright green.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a form of depression that occurs in relation to the seasons, most commonly beginning in winter.

Symptoms:

• Afternoon slumps with decreased energy and concentration
• Carbohydrate cravings
• Decreased interest in work or other activities
• Depression that starts in fall or winter
• Increased appetite with weight gain
• Increased sleep and excessive daytime sleepiness
• Lack of energy
• Slow, sluggish, lethargic movement
• Social withdrawal

While we can't do anything about the seasons, there are things we can do to keep ourselves aligned and focused. Unfortunately they are pretty much in the same manner as the rest of the treatments for depression that are available to us.

Treatments:

• Light Therapy
• Medications
• Being outdoors
• Talk Therapy
• Light systems that turn your room lights on like the sun was coming up each morning
• CBT or Cognitive Behavior Therapy
• Supplementation of the hormone Melatonin
• Personally I find writing helpful during this time
• Talking to friends
• Joining support groups

Not much is known about SAD, nor have they been able to come up with a 100% positive treatment that works. It is mainly up to you to find what works best for you and stick to it. Make sure whatever you use to stay healthy and sane in the winter, that you develop a WRAP plan and stick to it when you need to. It can become a lifesaver in a dark time of need and I know this for a fact.

Try talking to your friends, invite them over for a weekly dinner to keep your spirits up. An even better idea is to start a weekly or monthly dinner round table where to go to one anothers home for a potluck and spend the evening shooting the breeze with your friends. Joining a book club, coupon club, go to the library for some of their various program. The idea is to stay busy and keep your mind from wondering.