Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a mood disorder subset that causes people who have normal mental health throughout most of the year exhibit depressive symptoms at the same time each year, most commonly in winter.
Feeling depressed most of the day, nearly every day
Losing interest in activities you once enjoyed
Having low energy
Having problems with sleeping
Experiencing changes in your appetite or weight
Feeling sluggish or agitated
Having difficulty concentrating
Feeling hopeless, worthless or guilty
Having frequent thoughts of death or suicide
SAD can be caused by weather patterns that cause changes to circadian rhythm and levels of serotonin and melatonin. Factors that may increase SAD symtoms include low sunlight, precipitation, and poor visibility, while on sunny, clear days, SAD symtoms are less likely. This website can be used to assess your daily risk of experiencing SAD according to current weather patterns to best manage symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder and visualize these emotions with collage. Additional resources about SAD can be found through the link on the homepage.