Seasonal Affective Disorder

Seasonal Affective Disorder is a form of depression that is at its worst in the winter time. It is also known as "winter depression" or "winter blues".
This normally begins around the autumn time and not finish until around spring time. When the clocks go back and the days become shorter is when most people start to feel their depression become worse. It has been known to affect a person more in the months of December, January and February.
The type of symptoms are the ones common with depression, low mood, feeling worthless, drained etc.
Here are some cute photos that sum seasonal affective disorder up for me :)

My Story
So I had never heard about seasonal affective disorder until about the middle of 2013. I explained to a friend of mine at that time on how I felt, with feeling low and unwell and that it seems to be this time of the year. She then explained to be about seasonal affetctive disorder and within a few days I went to the doctors and was diagnosed. I was given an anti depressant known as floroxide, but I had a bad turn with this anti depressant and it gave me insomnia, So after a week they put me on Sertraline. It was great to know what was finally wrong with me and it made so much sense. I was put on Sertraine and suggested to take between October and April time.

So it turns out I have had seasonal affective disorder since the age of 9. In school my parents always struggled to get be back to school after October half term. I was end up being unwell with constant chest infections etc, and me just refusing to go, being upset etc. It turns out this is all part of the seasonal affective disorder.

Although this all sounds "scary" and will be a life long condition, there are many ways to control it in the winter times.
I'm currently still on 200mg of Sertraline, and have been for a few months, so that it well in my system. When the clocks change and the mornings are darker I also have what they call a SAD Lamp which you can get from amazon, maplins etc. They look like this:

I will basically put this on in the front room so its directed towards my face and have it on from 20 mins to an hour. 

You can get so many different lamps like this. Another good product is a SAD alarm clock. This alarm clock will have a light that 30 mins before your alarm will start of dim and then by the time your alarm goes off this light would be bright and it is almost like a sunrise. 

Routine is also very important for me. I make sure I always get up between 7am and 8.30am (unless special occasions, unwell etc) I always make sure I have a cuppa and my breakfast so I make sure I am up and ready. If I don't do anything else that day, at least I could say I got out of bed! 

So thats seasonal affective disorder. It's not that scary as it sounds, and can be dealt with!