Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression, often known as Winter Depression, that comes and goes in a seasonal pattern. The symptoms are more apparent and tend to be more severe during the winter, often beginning in autumn and lasting throughout the darker months. Some sufferers may feel the effects right up until the weather improves and days become lighter in the spring. The symptoms can include a persistent low mood, lack of energy, loss of interest in every day tasks, sleeping for longer than normal and finding it difficult to get up in the morning, irritability, a tendency to over-eat or under-eat and social withdrawal. Although the symptoms can vary in severity, they can greatly impact day-to-day activities and have a real effect on the sufferer’s life. Aside from the different forms of counseling such as Mindfulness Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and the use of light therapy to simulate light within your own home and reduce the negative effects that darker days can have. Within everyday routines it is important to maintain a healthy diet and add in elements such as complex carbs and Omega-3 to sustain energy levels and to boost mood. Overall it’s essential for sufferers to remember that they are not alone and there are strategies to take to relive symptoms. Mattress Online have looked into the treatment and prevention of SAD to ensure that sufferers are able to lead normal lives whilst managing their symptoms. Source