TresSugar

DrSugar Schools Us on Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

DrSugar — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 09:30:06 PST

DrSugar is in the house! This week she discusses the emotional impact of Winter.

With Winter around the corner (or perhaps rearing its ugly head already), I’m sure that a majority of FitSugar readers are experiencing cooler weather and shorter days. With this in mind, I thought a great topic to discuss this week is seasonal affective disorder.

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that is cyclical and seasonal, meaning it comes and goes at the same time every year. According to the Mayo Clinic, most people who have seasonal affective disorder have symptoms that start in the Fall and continue into the Winter months. Less often, people suffer from seasonal affective disorder that causes depression in the Spring into the Summer months. Keep reading to learn more about it.

Do You Suffer From Seasonal Affective Disorder?

FitSugar — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 03:47:15 PST

If you find that your mood starts to drop during the Winter months, you may be suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

Often called Winter depression, SAD is a mood disorder brought on by the lack of light due to shorter days. The symptoms of SAD can be quite severe and are in line with major depression, but typically disappear with the arrival of Spring.

If you suffer from SAD, some symptoms you may experience are irritability, a drop in energy level, and weight gain. Treatment includes light therapy, monitored doses of melatonin, or antidepressants.

I definitely get a little bummed when the days get shorter during the Winter, but do not suffer from SAD. I do try and spend as much time as I can outdoors before the sun sets though. How about you?

Shoe to Tiny Turtle: I'm Just Not That Into You

GiggleSugar — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 07:00:00 PDT

It pains me to post this video. It chronicles a particularly embarrassing moment in the life of this tiny toity here who is doing his damnedest to have sexy-times with a completely uninterested shoe. He was the little turtle who could. Only, he couldn't. Sad.

You Asked: My Boyfriend Dragged Me Through the Mud

DearSugar — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 12:56:55 PST

Dear Sugar,

I was with my ex for three years - we lived together and pretty much grew up together. We have been broken up for two months and it's been the hardest thing I have ever had to deal with - moving my stuff out was extremely painful. All I ever do is think about him and our old life. The thing that tears me up the most is that I just found out he's been extremely promiscuous since we've split, all the while having breakup sex with me. I also learned that he is now ready to settle down again, but not with me.

I'm hurt that he got to have all of his fun and drag me along on his ride only to leave me in his tracks. I am incredibly heartbroken, saddened, disgusted and I feel completely rejected. I dream about him almost every night and wake up every morning, sad to be at my mom's house and not our old apartment. Is this normal? I feel like I'm crazy to still think about him every day and mourn like this. - Heartbroken Heidi

To see DearSugar's answer

read more Dear Heartbroken Heidi, To answer your question, yes, your reaction is completely normal - in fact, I'd be a little concerned if you weren't feeling this way after ending a three-year relationship. The fact that you had to move out of the apartment you shared definitely makes matters worse, so take your time in this grieving process and try not to be so hard on yourself. In the meantime, if living at home with your mom is making this bad situation worse, I suggest you find a roommate and move out ASAP. Having breakup sex adds a level of difficulty to the moving on process, but rest assured that thinking about your ex, even though he dragged you through the mud, does not make you crazy, it makes you human. Time is the best healer, but you should also lean on your friends and family for support. All of your feelings are justified Heidi, and in due time, I have faith that you'll see that this relationship just was not meant to be. Hang in there and good luck. Source

Sad!

GiggleSugar — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 03:00:00 PST

Someone please get this pup a cookie! Mr. Lonely's sadness is too much!

Handle This: Your Friend Has One Problem After Another

DearSugar — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 10:00:00 PST

If you were put in a situation like this, how would you handle it?

You and your girlfriends are really close, but one in particular has been struck with a serious case of bad luck. She recently lost her job, her relationship has been on the rocks for weeks now, and she just found out that she has to be out of her apartment by the end of the month. Needless to say, she's been leaning on her friends for support and you've been the one she's relying on most.

While you love being there for your friends, her problems seem to be never-ending, and they are starting to weigh on you. She needs the companionship and encouragement of her friends, but truth be told, you've had enough. You don't want to leave her high and dry, but you're simply fed up with putting her needs before your own, so tell me, how would you handle it?

Source

DearSugar Needs You Help: I Can't Move On

DearSugar — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 09:00:00 PST

DearSugar and Shattered Sharon need your help. She's having a hard time putting her breakup behind her, and could use some inspirational words of wisdom from anyone that's experienced a broken heart.

Dear Sugar,

My boyfriend of over three years broke up with me a month and a half ago because he said he didn't love me anymore. While I heard what he said, I'm still stuck at point A. I know I need to move on, but instead, I'm holding out hope. I think about him constantly. I go out and have a fun time, but he's always there in the back of my head and it's affecting my day-to-day life.

We've talked since and he told me that while he cares for me a lot, he wouldn't be true to himself if he stayed in the relationship. I still have unanswered questions in my head: How could he just not love me anymore? Was our relationship a sham from the beginning? Is there someone else? I don't want to be sad anymore, but I just don't know how to move on. Do you have any tips for mending a broken heart? - Shattered Sharon

Source

DrSugar On: Seasonal Affective Disorder

DrSugar — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 08:00:00 PST

DrSugar has received more than a few questions regarding the Winter blues. If you feel like hibernating these days, read what he has to say about this seasonal problem.

December 22nd marked the first official day of Winter. As the days have grown shorter and shorter and the weather increasingly nasty, you may have noticed some subtle changes in your mood or increased fatigue and sleepiness. If this sounds familiar, you may suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Seasonal affective disorder affects millions of people every year, especially those living in the northern states where Winter can be cold, dark and seemingly endless. Common symptoms include depression, over-sleeping, weight gain, and decreased energy.

Experts believe that seasonal affective disorder is related to disruption of normal sleep-wake cycles, called circadian rhythms, and an imbalance of brain chemicals melatonin and serotonin. The best treatment is bright light therapy, which basically involves setting up a bright light source in your home. The theory is that this treatment can adjust your body’s circadian rhythm and possibly increase melatonin and serotonin levels. Occasionally SAD is so severe that light therapy alone is not enough. Symptoms of depression, especially if lasting more than two weeks, may require evaluation by a doctor or psychiatrist. For more information on seasonal affective disorder check out our health guide. Also, vote on our seasonal affective disorder poll and let us know if you are suffering and SAD.

If you have a question for DrSugar, send me a private message here, and I will forward it to the good doctor.

DrSugar's posts are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. Click here for more details.

Year-End Results: Favorite Breakup Songs of '08!

DearSugar — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 06:00:00 PST

If you could create a soundtrack of your life, you'd probably have happy music, sad music, and music for every mood in between. Though a song can't make the pain of a breakup go away, it sure can help lift your spirits, or allow you to give into your blues, if that's the path you want to take. As part of my Best of 2008 coverage, I asked you to tell me your favorite breakup song of the year, so I'm back to round up my favorites that I found helpful, too. Check out my top five picks below:

"Apologize" - One Republic
“Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” - Beyonce
"Hot n Cold" - Katy Perry
"Better in Time" - Leona Lewis
"White Horse" - Taylor Swift

Source

Headline of the Day

GiggleSugar — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 08:00:00 PST

Country's Worst Christmas Tree Unveiled to Shoppers

The folks in Durham County in northeast England got a sad little surprise recently when this "threadbare . . . sorry looking Christmas tree" was unveiled by none other than Natasha Hamilton, a singer for the band Atomic Kitten. As soon as she switched on the Christmas lights, the snark began. "I would describe this tree as just like a twig," sniffed one shopper. "If the shopping centre couldn't have afforded to put up a better Christmas tree," complained another onlooker, "they shouldn't have bothered." "I think they should take it away and throw it in a skip," huffed another person. (I guess a skip is a fire!) Whoa, people. Maybe the good kids of Charlie Brown can remind you guys what Christmas (and this season in general) is all about. I feel strangely protective of this wan little twig festooned with lights . . . Click here to read more about it.