In the musical “Rent,” the cast asks a question to the audience in the song “Seasons of Love:” how do you measure a year? If you've watched the musical before, you probably already know the answer: in daylights, in sunsets, in midnights and cups of coffee, in inches, in miles, in laughter and strife. Yet for anyone who goes through seasonal affective disorder or SAD, the mad and sad season just goes on and on with no end in sight.

SAD is a mood disorder characterized by depressive symptoms during particular seasons of the year. Most people affected with SAD suffer the symptoms during the winter (often called “winter blues” or “winter depression”), but some people suffer from the disorder during summer. If you suffer from SAD, here are some ways to get over the seasons of despair.

What is SAD?

Seasonal affective disorder is one of the many common mood disorders known to modern medicine. Winter depression is a relatively common illness among people who live in temperate regions, or in areas that experience harsh winter weather. While SAD is usually associated with winter depression, symptoms of SAD can also affect people during the summer.

SAD is a cyclical condition, which means that it occurs every year unless treated and managed properly. Unlike other mood disorders, SAD is potentially dangerous. Some SAD sufferers may be prone to self-mutilation or suicide, and may require professional mental and emotional care. SAD need not be this extreme; most SAD sufferers suffer from mild symptoms that range from lethargy to cravings for particular foods. The depression can be so severe that it can get in the way of you leading a normal and productive life.

The true cause of SAD is not known. There are many theories as to what exactly causes SAD:

• A drop in serotonin levels.Serotonin is a neurotransmitter responsible for changing moods. Some doctors believe that a lowered level of serotonin can contribute to a negative mood swing. Some people experience a drastic drop in serotonin levels during the winter, or cannot synthesize serotonin properly, causing SAD.
• Changes in melatonin levels. Melatonin is a hormone that is produced and synthesized in varying quantities, depending on the dimness of the environment. Natural light during the winter season is quite dim, and some SAD sufferers tend to become depressed depending on melatonin levels.
• Genetics. Some people may inherit SAD from their parents, or that sadness and depression during the winter season runs through their family.

Signs and Symptoms of SAD

Each form of SAD has different symptoms. Like any mood disorder, the signs and symptoms of SAD vary. A set of symptoms that are consistent with SAD are also shared by other mood disorders.

If you suffer from winter depression, here are some symptoms you should look out for:

• Depression, anxiety, and melancholic feelings
• Sleepiness, lethargy, and a refusal to be around people
• Oversleeping and overeating
• Food cravings, especially for sweets and foods rich in starch and carbohydrates
• Inability to concentrate

Symptoms of summer depression are very different from winter depression:

• Irritation and agitation
• Insomnia
• Poor appetite leading to weight loss
• An increase in sex drive

There's also a form of SAD called Reverse SAD, where the symptoms are not depressive, but manic. Instead of symptoms associated with depression, a person suffering from Reverse SAD demonstrates the following symptoms:

• A very heightened, elevated mood
• Hyperactivity
• Unusual and disturbed thought patterns
• A persistent need to be around other people and participate too enthusiastically in activities

Consult Your Doctor

Like any mood disorder, you should have a doctor or a psychiatrist diagnose whether or not you have SAD. Mood disorders should not be self-diagnosed and self-medicated. You may think you have SAD, but you may only have a mild episode of depression or worse, a serious mental or mood disorder. If you exhibit the symptoms listed above, you should consult your doctor as soon as possible.

Ride It Out

Most cases of SAD are relatively mild, and do not seriously affect your lifestyle during the winter season. Unless you have extreme signs and symptoms that seriously affect your activity when seasons change, you may be better off just riding the episode of SAD out. When used improperly, medications and other treatments may lead to side effects that you're not prepared for.

Light Therapy

Many SAD patients use light therapy to cure or control symptoms of the disorder. Light therapy boxes and kits are available from health care supply stores and some pharmacies. White (and sometimes blue) light is used at doses between 2,500 to 10,000 lux (a unit measurement for the illuminance of light). The patient sits in front of the light box for 20 minutes to half an hour.

Supporters and users of light therapy claim that light can simulate outdoor light, and helps your brain produce and synthesize chemicals that help you uplift and stabilize your mood. Light therapy is very easy to use, although it can be quite uncomfortable especially for people who are very sensitive to bright light. Another problem is that you may be spending extra money for something that nature can do for you; you can get the same benefits from a light box by spending a bright winter day outdoors.

Bear in mind that light therapy is not officially approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a treatment for SAD. At best, light-box therapy is an alternative treatment for conventional medications and supplements.

Anti-Depressants

Anti-depressants are by far the most effective way to treat SAD. Anti-depressants work by balancing the amounts of neurochemicals and neurotransmitters in your brain to stabilize your mood. The anti-depressant Wellbutrin XL (buproprion extended-release tablets) is recommended by the FDA and by many psychiatrists for people with a history of SAD. Here are other anti-depressants that you can use to treat or control symptoms of SAD:

• Sertraline (Zoloft)
• Fluoxetine (Prozac)
• Paroxetine (Paxil)
• Venlafaxine (Effexor)

Do not, under any circumstances, self-medicate; when you use anti-depressants recklessly, you may grow addicted to them and end up with a worse problem than ever before. When you are placed in an anti-depressant regimen, make sure to follow the dosage to the dot. Don't worry about getting addicted, because the psychiatrist has already calculated a minimal dose that can help you cope with the symptoms of your problem.

Join Coping Support Groups

SAD can lower your self-esteem enough for you to think that you're the only one suffering from the illness. Believe it or not, many people also suffer greatly from the symptoms and consequences of SAD. You can mind many support groups through the phone directory, and many SAD support groups have also extended their services and counseling online. You can join the SAD support group nearest you, and be a volunteer for other SAD sufferers who need your help. In the same way, when you need their help to cope with your SAD symptoms, they can also be there for you.

In “Rent,” a year is measured in 525,600 minutes. For people who suffer from SAD, even a minute of the symptoms is difficult to withstand. With these tips, coping, treating, and bringing SAD under control makes it easy for you to celebrate and remember years and seasons in the life of friends.