Therapies, Remedies and Treatment

The reality is that for SAD, you should only have to live with it during the winter months. If it persists for longer, with no discernible improvement in the spring or no seasonal pattern, then you should should consult a medical practitioner.

So far, we have looked at the causes of SAD, the symptoms of SAD, and how Stress may aggravate some of the symptoms. For me, the approach to living with SAD is about an holistic approach:

 - understanding the condition  
 - minimising the effects of the cause
 - addressing the symptoms with a range of approaches

Some recent research published in December 2009 supports this.

The journal 'Behavior Therapy'  reported that University of Vermont psychologist Kelly Rohan, PhD, found that combining light therapy with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT, which focuses on observing and changing your own thought patterns) worked better than using either therapy alone. She quotes an 80 percent remission rate for patients treated with combination therapy, compared with 50 percent when a single therapy was used. (Only 20 percent of patients who weren't treated at all saw their symptoms abate.)

• Daily Life
  
  Personal Arrangements, Lifestyle and Organisation. This is probably the hardest part - I know how difficult it can be to get out of bed and get motivated when lethargy has got a hold of you and you have problems to deal with.
• Homeopathic Remedies
  
  Homeopathic remedies for SAD Sufferers, including St John Wort and Vitamin D
• Supplements
  
  SAD Remedies which do not fall under the 'homeopathic' heading
• Therapies
  
  Beating SAD - a list of therapies - light, music, laughter, activity, exercise, diet, social