seasonal affective disorder

As  the season begins to change, many people begin to develop symptoms of seasonalaffective disorder (SAD).  These symptoms look just like the symptoms for depression, but tend to   occur  during the months of October-March.   During the months of March-September, people tend to live  normal, happy ,and productive lives.

Last year, a ground breaking study in Canada, examined  the effectiveness of Prozac vs.  a specific light box.  Light boxes have been used for years as a treatment for SAD but without any support from the scientific community.  This study showed that the light box was actually more effective than Prozac.  To read the study click here.

The November 2007 issue of Consumer Reports has a 1 page article on SAD.  To read the article click here

Remember it's important to communicate to family members, friends, and treatment professionals about your symptoms so that they can help.  SAD is very treatable, but communication about these symptoms is the key.