About Sad Seasonal Affective Disorder: Sad Or Seasonal Affective Disorder

Read about SAD, seasonal affective disorder. Depression not only affects the person who is going through it, but also everyone around them, including friends, family, loved ones, spouses, and children.

What is Latitude Affliction

Seasonal Affective Disorder is mainly and commonly seen in higher latitudes' where sunlight decreases with the increasing latitude and days become shorter. The harsh conditions associated with winters' such as very cold weather and snow storms also have a great impact on Seasonal Affective Disorder.

There is a direct link between latitude and Seasonal Affective Disorder' as proven from researches and medical surveys. In 1990 a survey was carried out with thousands of North Americans. The results show that more than 20% of the participants complained of Seasonal Affective Disorder symptoms' whereas the studies show that in southern States such as Florida and Arizona' where weather is warmer and days are longer' less than 5% of the participants were suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder. Another study showed that more than 30% of the residents in chilly northern States like Alaska and Seattle suffered from SAD.

Seasonal Affective Disorder' also known as Winter Depression' has also been observed in residents in the Nordic countries. This was primarily explained by the 6th century Goth Scholar Jordanes. He took the inhabitants of Scandinavia as an example. But Iceland is an exception to this theory' where the symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder were rarely seen in both sexes. A study containing more than 2000 people proved that in Iceland' anxiety and depression was not commonly seen. Professional say' Seasonal Affective Disorder may also vary from person to person based on genetic factors. Another study shows that a group of Canadians descending from Iceland showed very low levels of Seasonal Affective Disorder. It has been suggested that the large amounts of fish eaten by Iceland dwellers help to curb SAD. So genetics and lifestyle both can play a big role in how much SAD controls your life.

Those affected by latitiude can change their living quarters or travel to southern parts to get away from SAD symptoms. But of course this is difficult to achieve in Nordic countries where the whole country is enveloped in chilly weather throughout the year. One must try to get as much as sunlight as possible or at least spend a lot of time outdoors. An active lifestyle helps to keep SAD symptoms at bay.

Summary – Latitude affliction is another side of Seasonal Affective Disorder where lack of sunlight makes a person feel depressed. With increasing latitude' there is less chance of sunlight and that is how latitude has a direct link to SAD symptoms.