Shedding Light on Seasonal Affective Disorder

Despite their self-proclaimed fortitude, many New Englanders do not welcome the colder weather and shorter days that arrive this time of year, while others suffer more troublesome physical and emotional issues as winter approaches. Seasonal Affective Disorder

(SAD) affects many people with symptoms such as depression and lethargy during a time of year characterized by less sunlight and lower temperatures. It also can lead to cravings for certain types of food, such as carbohydrates, which can exacerbate the cycle.
Unlike other forms of depression, SAD is markedly seasonal. The most common form, which generally arrives in late autumn and lasts until early spring, is attributed to a decrease in sunlight. Less sun exposure and weaker ultraviolet rays lead to lower production of vitamin D in the body, and therefore …(more)