By Juliet Nicolson

What Is Seasonal Affective Disorder
Seasonal Affective Disorder or “winter depression” is a form of depression that only affects people during the autumn and winter months. People who are affected by SAD find that their symptoms disappear as spring approaches and the days get longer.

It is believed that both the quality and quantity of daylight in autumn and winter can cause reduced serotonin levels which may cause people to become low or depressed, in some cases very severely. In the days before electricity and what is now a 24/7 society people would have coped with reduced daylight to some extent by sleeping longer, there wasnʼt really much else to do!

What Are The Symptoms of S.A.D.?
People who are suffering from S.A.D. tend to find that they feel extremely lethargic and have no energy to carry out tasks they normally manage with no problem. They want to sleep more than usual and often overeat. As mentioned, sufferersʼ moods can range from feeling a bit low to being very depressed.

How can SAD be treated?
It is important to respect your bodyʼs need for sleep and to try and reduce where possible the amount of stress you are already under, but obviously it is impossible to hibernate or, for most people, to spend the winter in the sun, appealing as that might be!

Light therapy using specially designed lights (NEVER sunbeds!) has been shown to be very effective for many people and it is important too to make sure you stay well hydrated and eat right for your metabolic type. Donʼt fall into the trap of trying to nurture yourself with stodgy comfort foods. These will play havoc with your blood sugar levels, exacerbating mood swings, and quite possibly add a few extra pounds at the same time, playing havoc with your self esteem.

Exercise has also been shown in study after study to be highly effective as a means of relieving many of the symptoms not just of S.A.D. but of all types of depression. Exercise can boost your mood, it can help you deal with negative emotions such as anger and stress and increase feelings of wellbeing. People often feel better about themselves when they take regular exercise; there is a sense of achievement and perhaps most important of all it is fun. It is a chance to get away from the stresses and strains of work/commuting/ home/school and do something for yourself.

Choose something you enjoy and then make it an important part of your life. It is an important part of your life. If you can take some of that exercise outside during daylight hours so much the better but the important thing is to get moving. If you donʼt have much time and donʼt have much energy, give yourself permission to do an easy or shorter session. The chances are that once you are at the gym, or have got outside you will want to do more anyway.

You wonʼt regret making the effort - sometimes the hardest part of doing exercise is lacing up your shoes!