Seasonal Affective Disorder

Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is depression that recurs yearly around the same time. The most common time for the symptoms of SAD to recur is in the fall, lasting through the winter, earning it the nickname "winter blues." It is characterized by changes in sleeping habits and difficulty getting out of bed, overeating, withdrawal from people and activities, and general loss of interest.

Lack of sunlight and the general dreariness of the winter months may be one cause of SAD. For this reason patients of the disorder are often treated using sun lamps or tanning beds. Another reason may be the isolation that occurs when the weather forces you to stay inside.