What Is Seasonal Affective Disorder? How to Treat Your Winter Sadness – Green Matters

As previously mentioned, Seasonal Affective Disorder is a form of seasonal depression that causes mood changes during the fall and winter months. It's caused by a biochemical imbalance in the brain from the shorter daylight hours and lessened sunlight, according to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), and although SAD is treatable, it can be seriously debilitating, affecting up to five percent of adults in the U.S. for about 40 percent of the year.

Some of the most common symptoms of SAD include: relentless fatigue, changes in sleep patterns, noticeable weight gain or changes in appetite, depression, apathy, increased amounts of fidgeting, feelings of worthlessness and confusion, and even thoughts of death or suicide. Symptoms of SAD generally surface between ages 18 and 30 years old, but they can start at any age. Luckily, those experiencing SAD can receive treatment, and it doesn't last year-round.

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What Is Seasonal Affective Disorder? How to Treat Your Winter Sadness - Green Matters