Winter Blues/SAD Symptoms
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), impacts a fairly large segment of the population each winter. In fact, studies suggest that five out of every 100 people are affected each year. Winter blues, which is a milder form of SAD is thought to affect 15-30% of the population.
The depression disorder produces such symptoms as:
- Lethargy;
- Tiredness or fatigue;
- A loss of interest in social activities;
- Withdraw from friends and family;
- Anxiety;
- Irritability;
- Trouble focusing;
- Loss of libido;
- Body aches and pains;;
- Appetite changes, especially a craving for foods high in carbohydrates
- Overeating;
- Crying;
- Lowered self-esteem;
- Migraine;
- Heavy, “leaden” feeling in the arms or legs
- Sleeping problems – either sleeping too much or not sleeping enough; and
- Apathy.
Diagnosing Seasonal Affective Disorder
Health care providers do not have any specific test or tool they can use to pinpoint the ailment, there is no diagnostic test or tool available for diagnosing Seasonal Affective Disorder. The depression disorder is identified then by reviewing a patient’s medical history and his complaints. Usually, a confirmation of SAD is not made until the sufferer has experienced the condition for two to three consecutive winters.