key term - Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Definition

SAD is a type of depression that comes and goes with the seasons, typically starting in the late fall and early winter and going away during the spring and summer.

Related terms

Light Therapy: A treatment for SAD that involves exposure to artificial light. It's like using a sun lamp when there's no sunlight available.

Melatonin:

A hormone that plays a role in sleep patterns. Its levels are affected by light exposure; it’s akin to your body’s natural alarm clock responding to sunrise or sunset.

Circadian Rhythm Disorders: These are disruptions in a person's circadian rhythm - a name given to the "internal body clock" that regulates the 24-hour cycle of biological processes. Imagine if your internal clock was set differently from everyone else’s – you’d be sleepy when others are awake, which can be quite disruptive.