Health Tools

Health Tools help you make wise health decisions or take action to improve your health.

	Actionsets are designed to help people take an active role in managing a health condition.
	Depression: Dealing With Medicine Side Effects
	Depression: Helping Someone Get Treatment
	Depression: Supporting Someone Who Is Depressed
	Depression: Taking Antidepressants Safely
	Seasonal Affective Disorder: Using Light Therapy

Symptoms

If you have seasonal affective disorder (SAD), you will usually have symptoms of depression during the winter when there is less daylight (October through April). Symptoms of SAD include:

• Difficulty concentrating.
• Low energy and fatigue.
• Reduced interest in daily activities, especially social activities.
• Moodiness (depressed, sad, or unusually quiet).
• Increased appetite.
• Cravings for complex carbohydrates (such as pasta and bread).
• Weight gain.
• Increased sleep.
• Loss of interest in sex.
• Irritability.

People with SAD may either have symptoms of major depression or minor depression. Those with minor depression are considered to have subsyndromal SAD.