by Jesse Hamric

Created on: October 18, 2009   Last Updated: October 19, 2009

Cold, snow, and ice. These are three words that most people would associate with winter. Those three words however, are not the only things that may come to mind when a person thinks of winter. To some, winter can be a time of depression. Each year, thousands of Americans suffer with Seasonal Affective Disorder. The sad part is, many of these people will never realize that there is an explanation for the way they feel, instead falling deeper and deeper into a state of sadness.

There is good news for people who believe they may suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder though, and through this article you will learn ways of dealing with the problem.

First lets explore the basic principal of SAD. People who experience SAD will normally begin to feel fatigued and depressed around the start of winter, when the daylight becomes shorter. They may find that these symptoms worsen as the months go on, and then gradually decrease as the winter and cold ends.

While there is no documented known cause of SAD, there are some various theories. Many behavior experts suggest that the depression is triggered by the brain receiving less daylight exposure. It has also been suggested that this lack of sunlight can influence hormones in the brain, indirectly leading to depression. Serotonin and Melatonin are two chemicals in the brain that may lead to this conclusion. By the brain receiving less sunlight, it is possible that more Melatonin is released, explaining the constant tired feeling.

While SAD is normally characterized by depression and fatigue, many smaller symptoms can come into play including mood swings, lack of enjoyment in things you normally find interesting or fun, new sleep habits (such as sleeping frequently during the day), difficulty concentrating, as well as loosing interest in friends or current relationships.

While many of these symptoms may not directly affect your life, some can. Extreme cases of SAD can result in lower grades in school, and even bad performance at work.

While the bad effects of SAD may seem horrible, there is good news for people that suffer with the condition. There are several ways of dealing with it.

First of all, it is very important to learn as much as possible about the condition. There are countless websites out there to educate you, and you may also find it helpful to speak with a doctor.

Second, you should make sure you get plenty of exercise and sunlight. These two go hand in hand. By spending time outdoors more often, you will build

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