Have you ever felt lonely, sad, or anti-social at a certain time every year? There is a reason for those feelings. It is called seasonal affective disorder. Seasonal affective disorder, commonly known as SAD, is a type of depression that typically lasts from fall to the end of winter but can affect some in the warmer months. It usually comes around every year at the same time and lasts for the same amount of time. It can be terrifying or upsetting to live with, but there is definitely a light at the end of the tunnel. Patience is key to feeling better, understanding it, and supporting those you know who experience this.

It is common in women and those with relatives that have this disorder and an estimated 5% of Americans experience this at some point in their lives. Isn't crazy how many of us are going through this? You may even have a friend who is experiencing this without you ever knowing. And, by the way, it isn't shameful to be going through it. It is caused by the lack of natural UV rays from the sunlight that we get more of in the spring and summer. How crazy, right? Lack of sunlight. Of course in the colder months, we tend to see less sunlight. It's cold outside and when the weather is bad, we tend not to be in it and for good reason.

So, with that said do you know someone or yourself who experiences this? There are ways to help them and get them treatment. I experience this and it can definitely hinder my days and make me feel awful. One of the treatments I use is light-therapy. This involves sitting in front of a box that emits light rays for at least 30 minutes a day. I like to do homework or watch funny videos while sitting in front of the box. It's really that simple for me and for many others, but you have to do it every day for a least a month to see the results. And those results are worth it, I promise.

Another thing you can do to treat SAD is by scheduling regular therapy sessions with your psychologist. By doing this you can talk about your feelings and what you are experiencing with a professional. During these sessions, they may be able to teach you how to handle a situation and overcome it. A lot of people use this method and it has been scientifically proven effective for some. The key to this is to keep doing this on a regular basis until your doctor says otherwise.

If you experience SAD, don't give up hope. You can overcome this and become a stronger person. Stay positive. For more information on SAD, visit the link below.

https://www.seleni.org/advice-support/article/mana...