How does SAD (seasonal affective disorder) affects ones麓 lifestyle?

what are some ways to overcome this?

There are many people who cannot bear to face Christmas...or birthdays of peole they loved wh have died. Some , it just provokes long lost memories that they are still in touch with...some good...some bad. I have seen people become depressed on a rainy day to the point of endless crying...like the rain that is falling. Others on a sunny day cry, because they remember a time in childhood when their parents took them on hikes, or picnics and that is no longer possible for them. It is truly disheartening to watch.
I faced something similar the first Christmas after my Dad died. I didn't...wouldn't listen to Christmas carols. Every time they came on the rado I turned it off. My 6 year old asked me, Did Grampa make Christmas special for you?" Of coure I said yes. He said, in amazing child wisdom, " wouldn't he be sad to see that you're not making Christmas special for me and my brother!" In a heartbeart I knew he was right. Christmas is now a time for remembering a wonderful man and it doesn't hurt anymore.

it greatly affects ones lifestyle. Just consider the following statements:

1. SAD can be a serious disorder and may require hospitalization.

2. At times, patients may not feel depressed, but rather lack energy to get out of bed and do things.

3. 鈥渁n energy crisis

Once you have SAD, surely you'll not be able to do your ADL (Activities of Daily Living). A lot of things you wnat to do but since you have this "energy crisis" in you, it inhibits you from doing the activities you like most thereby affecting you lifestyle.

A number of treatments exist for SAD. These include light therapies, medication, ionized-air reception and cognitive therapy, prescription medication. SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) antidepressants have proven effective in treating SAD.

You may do some desensitization exercises.

SAD is a type of depression caused by lack of sunlight in the winter. It has similar symptoms to other forms of depression - tiredness, lack of interest, feelings of sadness, and changes in appetite. The best treatment is the used of special bright lights which simulate sunlight. They are available in medical supply stores. Some people do take antidepressants for SAD but that is something you should discuss with your doctor. I've been on antidepressants and the side effects can be difficult so try to light therapy first.

Those light boxes are the cat's meow, but I'd get a pricier one (about $300 online plus shipping, $500 at a medical supply store), because the little cheap ones just aren't bright enough. Use it 1/2 to 1 hour in the morning. dawn simulator devices are also supposed to work well. Look them up online.

For an *untested* light treatment, in case you dont' have medical coverage for a light box and are broke, try getting a couple strings of blue LED christmas lights and arrange them to shine down from above into your eyes. They are exactly the right color light to help with SAD and they are cheap and they dont' use a lot of power. They don't need to, because 100% of the light is the right shade of blue. There is at least one study going on for this blue light thing, but my brother and I feel they work as well as the big, expensive full-spectrum light boxes we have been using for a couple of years. We have bipolar disorder that is made much worse in the winter due to SAD. I think there is someone on the internet selling blue light boxes, but the LED lights are just $10 or so.

For me, the symptoms are tired all the time, more sad mood, eat a lot more, especially sweets.