Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
January 2007 Online Feature
 With the shorter days of fall and winger, many individuals experience a drop in energy and mood. For those in colder climates, both the lack of daylight and the inclement weather cause many of us to "nest" a bit more than usual and quite literally, "never see the light of day!" It all becomes a bit of a vicious cycle for those who experience Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
Exposure to daylight, it appears, plays a critical role in sustaining emotional balance. SAD is a condition that can affect individuals that have had no prior diagnosis, as well as those who do have a diagnosis of a mood disorder.
For those that already have a diagnosis of major depression or those diagnosed with bipolar disorder that are in a depressed cycle, the environmental factors that can lead to SAD can also be triggers for a depressed episode.
There are a variety of treatments for SAD, with light therapy as one primary treatment. It is critical to review all treatment options with your doctor. There is always a danger in self-diagnosis and self-treatment. For instance, even though light therapy seems to be rather harmless treatment, some studies indicate that it could have a negative impact on individuals diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
In addition to working with your doctor to ensure the correct diagnosis and treatment, simply monitoring your mood and preparing a proactive plan can be helpful. We encourage you to review the listed websites* for additional information on what SAD is, its causes and potential treatments.
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