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  2. Mental Health
  3. Depression
  4. Depression & Seasonal Affective Disorder

Depression & Seasonal Affective Disorder

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  • How to Deal With Self-Pity

    The world is so unfair. Everyone is out to get you. You work so hard but the boss doesn't appreciate you. Your friends don't really like you, just what you can do for them. Your significant other is selfish and unloving. Your children are too busy to spend time with you. Feeling sorry for yourself is comforting when no one else seems to care. You may need to host a pity party, but it doesn't have to go on forever.

  • SAD Cures

    The winter blues occurs for plenty of people in the world, but seasonal affective disorder is a more serious form of the blues, taking the shape of moderate to severe clinical depression that only occurs during the cold seasons of the year. Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, causes feelings of sadness, mood swings, changes in appetite, insomnia or oversleeping, or more severe symptoms such as suicidal thoughts or feelings. If you experience SAD, you can speak with your doctor to determine the best method of treatment. There are certain treatments that you can use easily in your own home, while…

  • What Are Mental Problems?

    "Mental problems" is an informal term referring to a variety of mental-health disorders and mental illnesses. Most of these conditions have a significant impact on a person's life as well as the lives of family members and loved ones. These disorders can affect the person's mood, behavior, or cognitive skills, making it difficult to function normally in society. They may require treatment by a psychologist or psychiatrist. People with more severe or acute mental problems may be hospitalized for treatment as well.

  • Aromatherapy for Seasonal Depressive Disorder

    Seasonal Depressive Disorder is a condition where people feel depressed in either the winter or the summer. Learn about aromatherapy for Seasonal Depressive Disorder with help from a member of the American Herbalist Guild in this free video clip.

  • Freezing Temperatures & Depression

    Depression is a major disorder that can affect many aspects of your everyday life--the physical, emotional, mental and even sexual aspects. It is more than the occasional sadness some might feel. It is an ongoing serious problem that has many forms but fortunately has many treatments as well. One form of depression cycles with the seasons and strikes most of its victims in fall and winter, especially in colder climates with freezing temperatures. Some call it the "winter blues," but it is a real problem with a clinical diagnosis: seasonal affective disorder.

  • UV Lamp Depression

    A UV lamp, or a UV light box, is a type of lamp used for light therapy. Light therapy involves regular exposure to UV lamp or box in order to treat symptoms of certain forms of depression, particularly season affective disorder. Light therapy may also treat symptoms of non-seasonal forms of depression and postpartum depression.

  • Solar Lamps & Depression

    Light therapy is a method of treating symptoms of various depressive disorders, particularly seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Light therapy involves periodic exposure to a solar lamp, or light box that emits a bright light similar to sunlight. According to the Mayo Clinic, light therapy has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, though it is considered to be the main course of treatment for SAD. Although side effects are uncommon, there are some that are associated with the use of solar lamps to treat depression.

  • How is Focus Affected by Depression?

    Those with depression may experience difficulty focusing their attention as well as processing and remembering new information; however, such problems of focus may not necessarily be a direct result of depression. Other factors may be involved in a depressed person's inability to focus. Attention deficit disorder (ADD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are conditions that hinder a person's ability to focus and may also coincide with depression.

  • About Depression & Pity

    Depression and pity often go hand in hand. To be depressed is to experience extended periods of sadness that interferes with daily life. Those in a relationship with someone who is depressed suffer as well, and may cope with the situation by pitying, or feeling sorrow for the depressed. To look into whether this is a positive coping mechanism, it is necessary to understand more about the condition of depression.

  • Financial Impact of Depression

    Depression is a mental illness that causes psychological and physical symptoms such as irritability, sleep disturbances, and loss of appetite. In addition to causing distress, depression negatively impacts the finances of the individual. There are many companies which have financial consequences from employees who suffer depression.

  • How Many Americans Are Affected by Depression?

    A Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index survey conducted in 2009 revealed that about 40 million American adults had recently been diagnosed with depression. Signs of depression include feelings of emptiness and extreme sadness that last for prolonged lengths of time. Depression can lead to withdraw from normal activities, lower ability to function in everyday life, and suicide or self-harm.

  • SAD Vs. Depression

    Most people experience symptoms of depression and many experience a major bout of depression. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a distinct form of depression that presents symptoms only during certain parts of the year.

  • What to Do When Depressed

    Depression is a serious illness that affects millions of people around the world. It affects each person differently: Some people notice depression symptoms only on dreary days or when the seasons change, while others fight the debilitating effects of depression every day. Luckily, many options are available that can help you overcome depression.

  • What Is LED Therapy?

    LED (light-emitting diode) therapy is one of the most popular treatments in the medical and skin-care industry. Also referred to as infrared therapy and phototherapy, it is a noninvasive procedure that promotes the skin's natural healing process.

  • How Depression Affect Your Body

    Although a mood disorder, depression affects the body in a myriad of ways. According to the allpsych.com web site, physical manifestations include: agitation, sleeplessness, loss of appetite, aches and pains, listlessness, inability to concentrate or stay focused, lack of energy and withdrawing from pleasurable activities.

  • Theory of Depression

    The effects of depression on a person's everyday life can be debilitating and can grow increasingly worse with time. As of yet, the specific cause for this condition remains unknown. The physical and psychological components that accompany depression symptoms have formed the basis for a number of theories on its origin.

  • Light Cures in Western Medicine

    Western medicine has only just begun to recognize the significance of the way light influences the regulation of the body's biological clock. It is only recently that some Western medicine practitioners have come to support certain light therapy treatments. Different kinds of light therapy are used to cure or improve various physical and mental health problems. Bright Light Therapy, Narrow-Ban UVB Phototherapy and Photodynamic Therapy are a few that are currently being used in conjunction with Western medicine.

  • How Does Depression Affect Health?

    The effect of depression on a person's psychological health can be indirect. Many people report a feeling of being caught in a deep hole with the inability to get out. They suffer from increased nervousness and are prone to having anxiety attacks. The depressed person may not realize the downward cycle that he is in before it is too late. Some depressed people suffer from a need to hoard items, which can cause increased clutter and result in safety issues. The depressed person may be unable to sleep. He may refuse to go outdoors and refuse visitors. As a result,…

  • Depression & Seasonal Affective Disorder in Alaska

    Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a form of depression that occurs due to a lack of daylight hours. SAD symptoms, like all symptoms of depression, range from mild to severe; however, unlike symptoms of other depressive disorders, they occur only during the winter months and recur in a seasonal pattern. SAD is of special interest to Alaskans, who only experience a few hours of daylight during the winter months.

  • How Hormones Affect Depression

    Hormone levels have a large effect on depression according to traditional Chinese medicine. Learn more about how hormones affect depression with tips from an acupuncturist in this free Chinese medicine video.

  • How Does Depression Affect a Relationship?

    Depression is a complicated, insidious and often misdiagnosed disease. Symptoms of depression vary widely from person to person, and often include things like low energy, irritability and lack of concentration, all of which can be attributed to other ailments. Also, many people afflicted with depression refuse to seek treatment, either because they don't think there's anything really wrong or because they are skeptical of depression treatments like drugs or therapy. Unfortunately, when left untreated depression can affect all aspects of a person's life, particularly relationships.

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