Beech Tree News Network

If you find yourself feeling down, depressed, moody or irritable during a particular time of the year, you may suffer from seasonal affective disorder.
According to the Mayo Clinic, SAD is a type of depression linked to seasonal changes, and it begins and ends around the same time every year. For the majority of people, symptoms start in the fall or winter but quit with the coming of spring or early summer.
SAD can cause feelings of depression for most of the day or nearly every day. Other symptoms include low energy, loss of interest in activities you used to enjoy, problems sleeping, loss of appetite, irritability, low energy and difficulty concentrating. A full list of symptoms is available on the Mayo Clinic’s website at http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seasonal-affective-disorde.... Symptoms may start out mild but progress as the season wears on for some individuals.
It is normal to feel down somedays, but if you lack motivation and energy and feel blue for multiple days at a time, it is best to make an appointment to see your doctor. While there is no way to prevent SAD, a health care professional can diagnose the disorder and prescribe treatments to help you better manage the symptoms. Such treatments might include brightening up your environment, getting outside more and making physical activity a regular part of your day.
If you think you might suffer from SAD, you are not alone. According to the National Institutes of Health, this disorder affects 6 percent of the U.S. population with an additional 14 percent suffering from a lesser form of seasonal mood changes. Females are four times more likely to suffer from the disorder than men. Your risks also increase the farther north you live, as you are farther away from the sun compared to those in the south. People can even develop the disorder after moving to more northern climates.
For more information on family-related topics, visit the Butler County Cooperative Extension Office.
Educational programs of the Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, sex, religion, disability or national origin.
        
    For more information, contact the Butler Cooperative Extension Service at 112 E GL Smith Street, Morgantown or call 270-526-3767.

    Educational programs of the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability, or national origin. 

By: Tracy M. Cowles, Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences

    Source: Amy Hosier, associate extension professor for family life education