SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder)

"The primary feature of seasonal affective disorder is a pattern of depressive or manic episodes that occurs with the onset of the winter months. As the days become shorter, and the weather colder, there is an increase in vegetative depressive symptoms. Individuals eat more, crave carbohydrates, sleep more, experience chronic fatigue and gain weight. In pronounced cases, significant social withdrawal occurs as well. Some have described the pattern as a hibernation during the winter months.

The second phase of the disorder, is the tendency for these symptoms to abate once the days become longer and warmer in the Spring. Again, the hibernation analogy works well. Finally, this pattern of seasonal depression must be present for at least two consecutive years, without any occurrences of non-seasonal depression Researchers are still trying to determine if this is a separate disorder, or simply the manifestation of recurrent major depression or another mood disorder in a cycle pattern. " Norman Rosenthal


Y de repente el sol, el cielo rosado y violeta en los ultimos momentos antes del crepusculo. Mis manos tienen todavia el olor a budin de lima y leche de coco que lentamente se cocina en el horno. Los barcos abandonados en el rio se mueven con el viento, que es tan fuerte que siento que me va a levantar y a llevar volando en cualquier momento. Siento de pronto el lugar en el que estoy. Miro despues de tantos d[ias de niebla y lluvia, por primera vez redescubro los edificios que se ven en la ciudad, a lo lejos. Me invade la felicidad. Me invade el sol. El aire de rio. El saber que 7 millones de personas estan en este momento bajo este mismo sol que los hace sonreir. Buenos Aires es feliz en su ignorancia del terrible efecto del clima. Aqui, a veces, el sentirse feliz pasa solamente por el servicio meteorologico.