Do i have seasonal affective disorder?
Seasonal affective disorder, commonly known as SAD, is a form of clinical depression caused by the lack of bright light in the fall and winter months. The disorder is characterized by profound depression, sleep difficulties, overeating, lethargy, and poor concentration. SAD is seen in only 5 to 10 percent of the population, while the winter blues are more common. According to Janet Osterman, M.D., medical director of the Out-patient Psychiatry Clinic at Boston Medical Center and assistant professor of psychiatry at Boston University School of Medicine, there are two types of seasonal affective disorder: depressed and bipolar. Depressed SAD occurs in a person who has a normal mood until the days get shorter, when depression sets in. The onset of this form of the disorder typically occurs from early October to mid-November and lasts until mid-February to mid-April, when the daylight hours begin to lengthen. Osterman says that almost anyone can be affected by seasonal affective disorder,
