While some get through long winters without effects on their health, others suffer from seasonal affective disorder. Longer nights and shorter days due to the season can cause individuals to develop and suffer from depression, anxiety, weight gain, and fatigue. In some cases, these symptoms can be counter balanced with environmental changes, while in others, medication is required.

Symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder

Everyone will experience different symptoms and varying levels of severity of the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder. Some of the most common symptoms of seasonal affective disorder include:

• A change in appetite; increases and decreases
• Weight gain or weight loss
• Reduced energy levels
• Fatigue
• Anxiety
• Increased sensitivity in social settings
• Depression
• Avoidance of regular social interactions
• Changes in sleeping pattern

Some of the most common solutions for those suffering from seasonal affective disorder include:

• Exposure to Natural Sun Light- Any exposure to natural sunlight is recommended during the winter months. Any opportunity that presents itself to be outdoors, whether in your home town or by going on vacation, is preferred over all of the other treatment options.
• Depression Medications- Some patients experience benefits from antidepressant drugs, especially those patients who are experiencing severe symptoms. Some of the most common medications that are used to treat seasonal affective disorder include: Paxil, Zoloft, Wellbutrin XL, Prozac, Sarafem and Effexor. Some patients will take this medication annually, while others will only begin to take it during the months in which they typically experience symptoms. One of the most important things to consider when selecting this treatment option is that it often requires several weeks of taking the medication consistently before the effects are fully realized.
• Light Therapy- Due to the success that many sufferers gain from exposure to natural light, many patients have seen improvement in their symptoms when they leveraged light therapy. Light therapy boxes can be purchased and used within the home or office to simulate sunlight. And, this simulation works to stimulate biological changes within the brain, ultimately relieving symptoms experienced from seasonal affective disorder. This treatment option is easy to use but has not been approved by the FDA, and should be used under the advice of a physician although there are no known side effects.
• Exercise- Exercise due to its ability to help the body to release endorphins is a recommended strategy to combat the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder. If possible, it is recommended to exercise outdoors, increasing the opportunity to be exposed to natural light in addition to capturing the benefits of endorphins, one of the body’s natural defences against depression and anxiety.
• Psychotherapy- Seasonal affective disorder is thought to be caused by biochemical changes and processes linked to changes in mood and ultimately the appearance of symptoms. Psychotherapy is a technique that is commonly used to help a patient to identify their negative thought patterns or behaviours, in which pattern changes can be used to help the patient to reduce their symptoms. Awareness and the ability to control feelings is a proven method to managing the effects of seasonal affective disorder.
• Counselling- Some patients experience benefit when exposed to cognitive behavioural therapy on an ongoing basis.

Virtually anyone is susceptible to developing seasonal affective disorder. But, there are many proactive measures that can be taken such as exercise and mental awareness that can help a patient to overcome the physical, emotional and mental symptoms that are commonly associated with seasonal affective disorder. In the event that these measures are not effective in assisting the person to combat these symptoms, there are methods such as light therapy, psychotherapy and medications that have proven effective in the reduction of seasonal affective disorder symptoms.