Seasonal affective disorder can also have physical symptoms

HINTON, WV (WVNS) -- Seasonal Affective Disorder affects roughly five percent of the United States population, and four out of five people affected are women. That's according to Mental Health America.

Research says the further one is from the equator, the more at risk they are for developing SAD.

Sarah Barnett, Licensed Clinical Psychologist with Summers County ARH Hospital, said it's not just your mind that is affected - there can be physical symptoms that develop with seasonal affective disorder as well.

"But you can also have things like changes in appetite, and like, increased weight gain, you can have sleep disturbance. So, like, usually in the fall you're gonna be sleeping a lot more. You might feel excessively tired throughout the day, more difficulty concentrating on tasks," sa