Although SAD is not a new phenomenon, the condition wasn't officially identified as an illness until 1982. Today, researchers know that SAD is linked to light deprivation, but do not agree on the precise chemical causes. A more recent theory suggests that SAD stems from a seasonal drop in the brain's levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin, whose production is stimulated by sunlight. Some scientists also speculate that SAD reflects a derangement of our biological clocks that occurs when we don't adapt our schedules to seasonal changes. Regardless of its origin, mild cases of SAD can often be nipped in the bud by simply increasing exposure to light.
Some people install full spectrum fluorescent bulbs over the bathroom sink.
Keep SAD at bay with a better diet. Like most health problems, SAD often responds to dietary improvement. Of course, minding your nutritional P's and Q's constitutes the classic Catch-22 when junk food cravings are part of the condition. The B-Complex vitamins promote a healthy nervous system, reduce stress, apathy, and irritability, and increase energy. While fish, wheat germ, brewer's yeast, and animal products are good sources of B vitamins, many people also take a daily supplement.