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• What is SAD?
  What is SAD (or Seasonal Affective disorder)? It's a mood disorder created by a lack of daylight in winter (the so-called "winter blues") and it's surprisingly common.
  
  
• Symptoms of SAD
  What are the symptoms of SAD ? There are 4 main symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder which become more pronounced as winter approaches and reducing as the days become lighter in spring.
  
  
• What causes SAD?
  Low levels of daylight are the clear trigger for Seasonal Affective Disorder but the causes of SAD are also tied up with individual brain chemistry - hormones serotonin, melatonin and dopamine.
  
  
• Treatment for SAD
  There is a combination of treatment for every SAD sufferer to help bring the symptoms under control. Be sure and consult your doctor about potential treatment before you decide on a course of action.
  
  
  • Light Therapy Treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
    Light therapy is the most effective treatment for SAD (seasonal affective disorder) helping 75 - 80% patients. It involves using a 2500 to 10000 lux light box each day.
    
    
    • Litebook
      Review of the Litebook portable light box
      
      
  • Medication for SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder)
    Medication is often prescribed for SAD patients in combination or in place of light therapy to help alleviate the symptoms of depression.
    
    
  • Psychotherapy for SAD
    Psychotherapy and counselling are often used to help with SAD and they may offer a fuller solution for depression where there are issues beyond seasonal affective disorder causing general unhappiness.
    
    
  • Treatment for Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) : Exercise
    Exercise is vital for patients suffering from seasonal affective disorder especially outside in daylight hours. Exercise can be as beneficial as psychotherapy when dealing with SAD and depression.
    
    
  • Diet and SAD
    A good diet can help with SAD symptoms and your general well-being. As sufferers may be serotonin deficient, a diet for SAD concentrates on getting the right balance of this brain chemical.
    
    
  • Environmental changes for SAD
    Changing your environment can have huge benefits for SAD patients. By making changes to your home and work place to improve the light levels you can help alleviate some of your symptoms.
    
    
  • Serotonin and SAD
    Studies have indicated that low levels of serotonin are implicated in seasonal affective disorder (SAD) but what causes low serotonin levels?
    
    
• Questions about SAD
  Living with SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) brings up many questions. We answer a number of common questions in this section.
  
  
  • Do I have Seasonal Affective Disorder?
    Telling the difference beween classical depression and Seasonal Affective disorder (or SAD) is not always easy but here are some questions to consider.
    
    
  • How to Build a Light Box
    Building your own light box for SAD - is it feasible? Is it safe? The components are available but how do you go about it?
    
    
  • Can a sunbed help SAD?
    The light emitted from a sunbed is bright enough to help people with SAD (Seasonal Affective disorder) to feel more cheerful, but it should nt be useda s treatment.
    
    
  • Is Blue Light better than white light for SAD?
    Blue light therapy is being promoted over white by some companies but it's not proven that blue light is as safe and effective as light boxes using white light for SAD (seasonal affective disorder).
    
    
  • What supplements are useful for SAD?
    Some supplements may be helpful in the treatment of SAD, while others which have been well-publicised do not have any scientific evidence to support mprovement in symptoms.
    
    
  • Can aromatherapy help with SAD symptoms?
    Many essential oils have anti-depressant properties and can be used in aromatherapy to ift mood in winter. Those who suffer from SAD may be helped by these in combination with other therapies.
    
    
  • How should I decorate my home to help reduce SAD symptoms in winter?
    You can decorate your home and make it lighter to help improve symptoms of seasonal affective disorder ( SAD ).
    
    
  • Should I install full spectrum lighting at home?
    Full spectrum lighting may help with some of the symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder ( SAD ) if you have a mild form. But you may need light therapy too if you have any serious symptoms.
    
    
  • How do I explain SAD to others?
    Some people with SAD are worried about others finding out about their Seasonal Affective Disorder diagnosis and judging them harshly because of it.
    
    
  • What makes Serotonin?
    Serotonin makes us feel good yet our levels are lower in winter. How can we make more of it?
    
    
  • Could a Light visor help?
    When you need a portable solution for light therapy you could try a light visor.
    
    
• Articles about SAD
  Here you'll find articles which we think you will find informative from various authors who have written about seasonal affective disorder or suffered from the winter blues themselves.
  
  
  • Seasonal Affective Disorder Article: SAD Walk Away the Blues
    Dull rainy days can make you depressed. SAD, Seasonal Affective Disorder, affects millions of people each year. But exercise can help you fight the "winter blues".
    
    
  • Combatting Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) Naturally
    There are many ways to help the symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder ( SAD ) without prescribed medication.
    
    
  • Are You Sad? Four Tools To Release The Winter Blues
    SAD - Sometimes we just get through the winter oblivious to how poorly we are functioning and that we are depressed. Here are a four tools to help.
    
    
  • SAD : Let There be Light
    Natural patterns of morning light exposure can positively affect depression including SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder)
    
    
  • Orange essential oil : aromatherapy for SAD
    How aromatherapy can help with the symptoms of SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). Orange essential oil has some properties that can help chase away the winter blues.
    
    
  • SAD Article : How to Beat the Winter Blues
    A typical symptom of SAD is that you crave sweet or starchy carbohydrates and junk food. Penny Williams describes the steps you can take to help beat Seasonal Affective disorder with diet.
    
    
  • SAD article: No more winters; I Found Palm Coast, Florida
    Sometimes relocation is the answer for SAD sufferers - especially if there is another region that appeals to you and you don't have too many ties in your current home area.
    
    
  • SAD Article : Daylight - You Need It (and It's Free)
    Whether we have SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) or not we can't do without natural daylight - it's vital to our health and well-being.
    
    
  • SAD Article : Top Ten Ways to a More Positive Outlook on Winter
    Many of us (even if we do not have Seasonal Affective Disorder (or SAD)) want to curl up and wait for spring as the days get shorter, but winter can be a positive time if you have the right attitude.
    
    
  • SAD Article : Twelve Winter Blah-Busters
    Every lift in mood counts when it comes to dealing with SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) although for those with the most distressing symptoms more help will be needed. Here are twelve ideas to chase away the winter blues.
    
    
  • How to Beat the Mid-Winter Blues When You're Self-Employed
    Having SAD means your energy supplies are at their lowest in winter - yet you need energy all year round to run your business. Read how one entrepreneur copes with seasonal affective disorder.
    
    
  • Light Up Your Life: Seasonal Affective Disorder
    Tips for overcoming Seasonal affective disorder from psychotherapist Dave Turo-Shields
    
    
• Articles about SAD ( 2 )
  More articles about Seasonal Affective Disorder which we think you'll find informative from authors who have written about SAD or suffered from the winter blues themselves.
  
  
  • Seasonal Affective Disorder and Tanning Salons
    Some people suffering from SAD ( seasonal affective disorder ) report feeling better after a session topping up their tan on a sun bed. But is light therapy on a sunbed a good idea?
    
    
  • Winter Snow Can Cast A Blanket Of Depression
    Winter is normally the time when those with SAD (seasonal affective disorder) suffer from depression. Here are tips from the National Institute of Mental Health in the US provided by Chris James who himself suffers from bi-polar depression.
    
    
  • Who Said Bananas Are Not Good For You?
    Everyone needs to eat more fruit but who knew bananas could be just the thing for seasonal affective disorder?
    
    
• Coping with SAD
  If you need to know how to deal with the winter blues, take a look at " Coping with SAD " It's packed full of information on all you need to know about Seasonal Affective Disorder.
  
  
• SAD News and Views
  News about Seasonal Affective Disorder from around the world including the latest research
  
  
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