Winter blues are more than a little sadness. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth edition (DSM-5), seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a form of recurring depression based on seasonal patterns (APA, 2013). The most frequent occurrence of SAD is during the winter months (Evans et al., 2013). The Mayo Clinic (2014) describes winter SAD symptoms as depression, irritability, fatigue, problems getting along with others, hypersensitivity to rejection, heavy feeling in legs and arms, increase in appetite, and weight gain.
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January 8, 2014
by LuAnn Pierce, LCSW
Winter is here and with the change of the season comes an unwelcome shift in mood for almost 10% of the population in some regions of the country. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is considered a type of major depressive disorder, according to the American Psychiatric Association.
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December 21, 2013
by LuAnn Pierce, LCSW
Most people believe that the rate of depression makes a sharp rise during the holiday season. However, research shows that depression and suicide rates are actually higher at other times of the year. This does not mean that millions of people are not depressed during the holidays – they are.
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