Some of the symptoms of SAD include not wanting to “rise and shine” in the morning with a severe desire to stay in bed all day. You have cravings for carbohydrates and sweets, which probably leads to weight gain, which then leads to depression, which then leads to withdrawal from friends, family and social activities. Sometimes these symptoms are so bad they lead to suicide and suicide attempts.
Women are more affected by SAD than men are; around 70-80% for women and for men less than half of that. The usual onset of Seasonal Affective Disorder is in the mid-thirties. Light Therapy is often recommended by doctors to these patients, using a light therapy lamp has been shown to help with the onset of this mood disorder.
One of the theories about Seasonal Affective Disorder is that there is a lack of serotonin in the brain, which then causes these symptoms. Some experts believe that light therapy is an effective treatment for SAD. This could include a light box, which the patient sits in front of for the prescribed length of time. This box costs around $250-$500 and is usually not covered by insurance. Another treatment is sunlight therapy or sunlight exposure. This could be chosen as exposure outside in the sun or using a sun lamp. Some other treatments for SAD could be antidepressant medicine, a replacement for the hormone melatonin or cognitive-behavioral therapy. If we have SAD or not, we just have another reason why we cannot wait for summer to arrive.