7 Signs of Seasonal Affective Disorder
Everyone feels a little melancholy this time of the year. Summer’s over, the days are getting shorter and colder, and the stress of the holidays is right around the corner. But for some people, the change in the seasons brings with it something more serious than the blues: seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a form of depression that can be debilitating.
3 of 8
Sleepiness and fatigue
People with SAD tend to feel the need to sleep more during the wintertime—sometimes a lot more. In one study, published in the Journal of Psychosomatic Research in 1994, patients at a SAD clinic averaged about 7.5 hours of sleep in the summer, 8.5 hours in the spring and fall, and nearly 10 hours in the winter.
Just because you’re sleeping more doesn’t mean you'll feel rested, however. Other research has shown that people with SAD experience more insomnia and sleep disturbances, and are more prone to nodding off at work.
Next: Irritability
Health's Top Stories
Get a weekly look at the most popular stories on Health.com.
Related Features
Hot Topics on Health.com
11 Foods for Healthy Bones
Maintaining great bone-health is essential to your mobility and quality of life. A diet high in calcium and vitamin D will help ward off thinning causes by Osteoporosis, and these foods are loaded with them! Read MoreMore Popular Stories on Health.com
- Quiz: Do You Know How to Beat Heartburn?
- 8 Classic Snacks Under 80 Calories
- Foods That Fight GERD
- 10 Ways to Have Great Posture as You Age
- How Friends Make You Healthier
- 7 Heart-Healthy Foods
- 13 Conditions That Mimic Fibromyalgia
- Body and Soul: Bone-Building Action
- 23 Easy, Low-Fat Dinners
- Get a Beautiful Butt in 4 Weeks
