S.A.D., also known as seasonal affective disorder is a type of depression that seems to be related to the amount of daylight to which people are exposed. S.A.D. usually occurs during the late fall or winter months – usually between October and April. For most people it tends to be worse in the fall or winter, making it an extreme form of the “winter blahs.” Some people, however, experience symptoms in the late spring or early summer. Three of the symptoms for seasonal affective disorder are lethargy and fatigue (low energy level), inability to focus or concentrate and sadness, anxiety, and despair.
Some people, especially those who experience S.A.D. in the summer, may have an opposite pattern of symptoms, such as loss of appetite and weight loss as well as insomnia. There are many options for treating SAD. It’s usually treated with light therapy, exercise, and good nutrition, as well as antidepressants in more pronounced and severe cases. Exercise is very helpful, especially if it’s aerobic and combined with light, for example, walking outdoors on a bright winter day or exercising on a treadmill in front of a light box.
source: MediResource Health