Seasons of change : the SAD facts

Abstract

The study was considered and designed with the aim of creating an in-depth understanding of Seasonal Affective Disorder, with particular interest in the lived experience of the participants. Through a phenomenological approach, five participants, one male and four females, all diagnosed with SAD divulged their perceived lived experience of a day in their life whilst going through seasonal disturbances. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data obtained through semi-structured interviews. The outcome of this research reveals that there is a substantial amount of disruption in the participants' lives caused by the effects of SAD. Their behaviours and their emotions are altered, whilst cognitively the brain functions differently and physiological symptoms add to the debilitating effects of this phenomenon. These findings suggest that more understanding and more empathic responses from others would help these people to cope better with the symptoms. Treatment strategies also need to be implemented specifically to help sufferers. In conclusion this study verifies that more local awareness needs to be created on the subject and that SAD should not be dismissed but viewed as a pervasive psychological problem that warrants more research locally.