Seasonal Depression Awareness Month

December is Seasonal Depression Awareness Month. Seasonal depression affects people during winter months when days grow shorter. The exact cause of this is not known, but some researchers believe that less sunlight causes a reduction in serotonin in the brain.

Seasonal depression may be diagnosed as Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD. It is distinguished from other depressive disorders by its correlation to fall/winter months only. You can learn more about SAD from Nancy Schimelpfening, your About.com guide to depression.

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