What is Seasonal Affective Disorder

Seasonal Affective Disorder (or SAD for short), is a form of depression related to the changing seasons. The most common type of SAD is during winter. It is also known as winter-onset depression. Most people affected will start to show symptoms towards the end of Autumn and will shake off the affects as Spring arrives.

This winter depression is caused due to a lack of natural light. This can affect the levels of vitamin D in the body - which helps prevent depression. Not everyone affected by SAD will have a vitamin D deficiency, but some of them will. It may help to be exposed to natural daylight during the shorter days rather than staying indoors.

The less common type of SAD is called summer-onset depression. A lack of vitamin D isn't an issue in this case, but the variable hours of daylight can be attributed to it. As daylight varies, people may go through various stages of seasonal affective disorder - some of which is not noticeable at all.

The good news for people who suffer this condition is that it can be overcome easily enough.