Five questions: Winter blues? Mental health professionals say
feeling down during the winter months may be more than just a
case of winter blues. Leslie Guerra, a crisis clinician with the
Johnson County Mental Health Center, addresses seasonal
affective disorder. Q: What is seasonal affective disorder, or
SAD? A: SAD is a mood disorder where people suffer from symptoms
of depression during the winter months, with symptoms subsiding
during the spring and summer months. It is not just "the blues,"
but has a psychological basis. Symptoms may include feeling
depressed, increased sleep and loss of energy, increase in
appetite and especially for foods high in carbohydrates,
decreased concentration and inability to complete tasks,
anxiety, irritability, avoidance of social situations. Q: How
common is SAD? A: Over 10 million people, or six percent of
Americans, suffer from SAD every year. It accounts for about one
in three cases of depression and affects women four times as
much as men. Q: What is the treatment for