Seasonal Affective Disorder

The cold weather and darker days associated with the changing of seasons can make anyone feel a little under the weather.  But how do you know if you're suffering from the "Winter Blues" or a more serious form of winter related depression called S.A.D., or Seasonal Affective Disorder? 

If you have problems getting out of bed and just going about your day to day business, chances are you could be suffering from S.A.D.

 Dr. Jeffrey Root, a psychologist for Northeast Health says a person with S.A.D. is going to show a real impairment on their social and occupational function between the months of October and April.  He says it can get to the point where their jobs and relationships with their family are at risk.

 While a patient suffering from S.A.D. can be prescribed anti depressants to help treat the disease, Dr. Root says a more common form of treatment is 20 to 30 minutes each day of light therapy.  But, you can't just sit in front of a normal light.  The light has to mimic the intensity of the sun in order to be effective.

S.A.D. is much more common in northern parts of the U.S., like the Capital Region, that experience less sunlight than sunnier climates, like Florida.  And if you're feeling a little down this winter, a trip to one of these sunnier climates could be just what the doctor ordered!  Dr. Root says he's recommended that some patients, not suffering from a serious form of S.A.D., simply take a week's vacation to a sunny climate in order to get through the dark Northeastern winters.  He says the best time to take these vacations is in late January or early February.