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Do you tend to feel down and out during dreary weather? Or, does it really hit you hard when the clocks fall back?
It might not be depression – you just might have Seasonal Affective Disorder, or S.A.D. for short.
S.A.D. affects about 5% of Americans – but many people don’t realize they have it and go untreated.
A friend of mine who is a horse trainer was used to spending hours outside in the sun during long summer days. But when winter hit and she spent many days inside due to cold or rainy weather, she felt devastated.
‘I had no idea what was wrong with me,’ she said.
Finally, someone told her about Seasonal Affective Disorder, and that’s when she asked her doctor about it. She discovered what had been plaguing her during those long winter months indoors!
Read more: The key to happiness in the workplace: FREE snacks
Seasonal Affective Disorder may look very similar to depression.
Though the specific cause of S.A.D is unknown at this time, there are some contributing factors, such as:
Even if you think you may have this condition, you don’t have to let it get you down!
After talking to your doctor, below are some ways you might combat Seasonal Affective Disorder, according to the Mayo Clinic.
If you have a more severe case of S.A.D., your doctor might want to prescribe antidepressant medication during the fall and winter months or refer you to a therapist to help you cope with symptoms and rule out anything more serious.
There may be some truth to the idea of the ‘winter blues’ after all. Be sure to be proactive and take steps to improve your mood instead of letting the weather get the better of you!
Read more: 10 simple scientifically proven ways to increase your happiness
This post was last modified on March 22, 2017 1:01 pm
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