usual and think about death or suicide.
People with fall-onset SAD also tend to:
-Sleep more than usual
-Have low energy
-Overeat and especially crave carbohydrates
-Gain weight
-Withdraw socially (hibernate)
SAD is four times more common in women and in younger adults compared to older adults. It typically starts between age 20 and 30 years. If you have a family history of depression or suffer from depression yourself, you are also at a higher risk.
The causes of SAD are still unknown, but some thoughts are it is due to a decrease in serotonin which is a key brain substance involved in mood. Darkness also increases melatonin and the higher levels of melatonin which occur in the shorter winter days lead to increased sleepiness and lethargy. Another theory is that the lack of sunlight affects the circadian rhythm which is the body’s internal clock that regulates mood, sleep, and hormones.
There are a few ways to treat SAD which can be used alone or in combination depending on