Seasonal affect disorder is also known as SAD and is a type of depression that changes with the seasons. Seasonal affect disorder is a type of depression that comes around at the same time of year each year similar to the seasons. Most people with seasonal affect disorder will experience symptoms in the fall that continue into the winter months. Seasonal affect disorder will cause a person to feel down, depressed, lack energy and will even cause moodiness in the individual.

While many people get the winter blues just because the weather is so cold and the sky tends to be so gray, not all people who have slight mood changes in the winter will suffer from seasonal affect disorder. Seasonal affect disorder is a more serious form of depression that should be treated by doctors or specialists at rehab centers.

Treatment for seasonal affect disorder may include light therapy or phototherapy as well as psychotherapy and medication. Depending on the severity of the disorder, people with seasonal affect disorder may only need treatment for a few weeks each year or they may require treatment that works year round to prevent the depressive states from arising as a result of seasonal affect disorder.