December is Seasonal Affective Disorder Awareness Month

Hailey Heseltine editor@riverbendnews.org The days grow shorter, temperatures drop and schedules settle into a busy hum. Wintertime isn't everybody's cup of tea. It's fairly ordinary for the stress of the holidays or the long, dark nights to cause the occasional slump. For many people, however, the onset of winter can mean something heavier. According to the University of Texas Medical Branch, about 10 million Americans experience Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Also commonly known as Seasonal Depression, it's most common during fall and winter, and it affects even those who may not realize they struggle with it. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), SAD is oft