How to beat the winter blues — aka Seasonal Affective Disorder

With decorations, presents, feasts and family gatherings, this is one of the most festive times of the year. But for some, fall and winter bring feelings of fatigue, lethargy and depression.

Seasonal Affective Disorder — or SAD — is a form of depression that occurs with the changing of the seasons, most commonly in fall and winter. Up to 26 percent of adults may suffer from the disorder, according to Kaiser Permanente’s Look Inside KP Northern California website.

Related Articles

A team of researchers led by psychiatrist Norman E. Rosenthal first described the disorder in 1984. While about 5 percent of adults in this country may experience its most extreme version, more people experience a milder version, the “winter blues.”

“This year has been interesting because we’ve heard a lot mor