Feeling S.A.D.?

SAD stands for Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Although most people feel a little down when winter hits, SAD sufferers have symptoms that are severe enough to disrupt their lives.

Symptoms:

• Sleep problems: oversleeping (but not feeling refreshed) and difficulty staying awake, or in some cases disturbed sleep and early morning wakening
• Lethargy: too tired to cope, everything becomes an effort
• Overeating: craving for carbohydrates and sweet foods leading to weight gain
• Depression: feelings ofdespair, misery, guilt, anxiety, hopelessness, normal tasks become frustratingly difficult
• Socialproblems: avoiding family and friends, irritability, inability to handle stress, feeling emotionally numb, loss of libido
• Physical symptoms: often joint pain or stomach problems and a lowered resistance to infection.
• Behavioural problems: extemes of mood and short periods of overactivity in spring and autumn.