What is Seasonal Affective Disorder?
No, you’re not imagining it. It’s possible your mood is affected by the chill in the air and the gloomy view through the living room window. The phenomenon is called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and it’s more likely to affect a person during the fall and winter months than in other seasons.
So if you feel moodier, sleepier, or more irritable during the cold season, you may have this common disorder. Thankfully, our counselors offer accurate diagnoses and effective treatments for both depression and SAD.
What Are the Common Symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder?
Seasonal affective disorder is sometimes confused with depression because the symptoms are the same. In fact, SAD is simply a subset of this more common disorder. So a person experiencing SAD is, by nature, also experiencing depression.
These are the common symptoms of both disorders:
- Feelings of restlessness
- Persistent low mood
- Feelings of stress and/or anxiety
- Decreased sociability
- Lowered sex drive
- Reduced self-esteem
- Irritability
- Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
- Increased pessimism or despair
- Loss of pleasure
- Decreased desire and/or ability to perform everyday tasks
On top of these concerning symptoms, you may also experience weight gain and lethargy. You may also find it difficult to concentrate.
Both depression and SAD can seem to come out of nowhere and make a big impact on your quality of life. If you believe you are experiencing one or both of these conditions, it’s time to speak to a counselor.
At NPS, we can help lift the fog that is burdening you. We specialize in treating clients with depression and seasonal affective disorder so they can regain their hopeful and fulfilling lives.
Therapists
These are our therapists who are experienced in working with Depression.
