SAD AND LONELY? 5 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT SAD

LONG NIGHTS CAN BRING LOW MOODS - AND SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER

Now that the days are getting darker, your mood may be getting darker, too.

Along with turning the clock back, many of us want to pull ourselves back as well, and hibernate.

When it gets really bad — as it does for between two to six per cent of Canadians — it is a form of clinical depression known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

You may have heard about SAD and its symptoms — craving carbs and sleep, lethargy and withdrawal from social contacts — but there are a few things you may not know.

1. Adults are at higher risk than children, but after the age of 50, the risk of SAD starts to decline.

2. Women are up to eight times as likely as men to report having SAD.

3. SAD may be related to our ancestors in the ice age, when slowing down in winter was useful, especially for women of reproductive age because pregnancy is energy-intensive.

4. It's not just the shorter days — SAD can be linked to stormier weather in October and November, when it's common to have multiple days of clouds.

5. Your doctor can prescribe antidepressants and/or phototherapy, but

there are steps you can take to stay mentally healthy when the nights are long: get outdoors for 20 minutes, twice a day; sit near a window; eat well and exercise, keep in touch socially and reach out to anyone you think might be lonely.