"Why can't you just snap out of it?"

As a society we are taught that if something is out of balance physically then we need treatment to correct it, however, we forget that our minds are one of the most important tools we have and that if we are mentally ill this too deserves treatment. As a mental illness, depression does not get the attention it deserves. In all reality it is a serious medical illness resulting from a chemical imbalance in the brain and life circumstances. People who are diagnosed with depression need treatment just like any other medical condition. I hope to educate people about the different types of depression and their symptoms as well as bring some understanding to those who may have depression but don't know why they can't "just snap out of it".

It's a SAD Time of Year

Winter Blues getting you down?  It seems at times that winter will never end and we will continue on this cycle of sleeping longer, eating more, and being lazier because during winter months long days and cold temperatures don't exactly motivate us to do anything besides try to keep warm.  However, for those with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) a more serious reaction can occur which can affect daily routines.  

SAD is a form of depression which is brought on at the change of the seasons every year.  Most experience this change when summer turns to fall and winter, but some can experience the opposite.  Symptoms of SAD in fall/winter months include depression, anxiety, hopelessness, loss of energy, social withdrawal, oversleeping, and weight gain.  With the spring/summer months the symptoms include anxiety, insomnia, irritability, weight loss, poor appetite, and increased sex drive.  The main cause of SAD is unknown however, some treatment options include light therapy, medications, and psychotherapy.