Do you watch the holidays approach with a creeping sense of dread? Maybe you don’t get along with family members, or maybe you don’t have any family at all. Perhaps death, divorce, and disagreements made past get-togethers with loved ones a living hell. Or maybe you simply cannot tolerate the … Read More
Seasonal depression usually begins as soon as the weather cools and the days shorten, around September or October, and lasts until it warms up again, often in April. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is most often seen in women, although men also battle it. It has no age limits. Many of … Read More
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a serious challenge that requires professional treatment (see "What You Can Do" sidebar). It often takes time and patience to overcome. And while there are no simple cures for this mood disorder, a Massachusetts General Hospital expert points out that there are common-sense steps that … Read More
People with social anxiety disorder (SAD)—also called social phobia—have an intense fear of social situations, especially if they believe they’ll be judged or scrutinized by others. So, while going to a party may produce what feels like anxiety, a party in which the person is the guest of honor might … Read More
Here in Seattle, I really started to feel the effects of our dwindling daylight hours in autumn. And for weeks now, it’s been dark when I go to meet my exercise partner in the early mornings, and the days are becoming cloudier and rainier. For about 10 percent of people … Read More
I live in Seattle, where the clouds hide the sun for most of the winter (and much of the spring and fall, too). So far this year we have had some particularly dark days - record setting dark days, in fact. Many people are greatly affected by lack of light … Read More
