Coping with winter a challenge for SAD sufferers in Ottawa

The winter months can be a difficult time for those struggling with seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. Symptoms of theperiodic disorder include fatigue, sadness, lethargyanddepression.

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"This time of year, I get a lot more calls for services," saysOttawa psychologistLaura Armstrong.

According to theCentre for Addiction and Mental Health, as many as 35 per cent of Canadians complain of having the "winter blues," while another 10 to 15 per cent have a mild form of seasonal depression.

Armstrong, who teaches at SaintPaul University,saysthose who struggle with SAD can experience a range ofemotions when the long, dark winter months set in.

"[Sufferers] actually can be quite irritable. Other times they might just feel a sense of gloominess or feel really tired," she said.

Armstrong recommends people seek help before the season begins and their mood starts to spiral down. She also suggests getting out and doing thingspeople findenjoyable.

"Combat [SAD]by saying this winter, here's something new that I've always wanted to do [and]I'm going to try it."

'Winters here are too long'

Golbon Moltaji came to Canada from Iran sevenyears ago to study. She says while she was used to experiencing winters back home, theseason hereis particularly hard to bear,both physically and emotionally.

"Winters here are too long," she says. "I can't have as much interactions with people as I would like to and my mood goes down. You know, it's like a vicious cycle."

Moltajisaysshemakes a special effort to get out and do things, including more gigs as a DJ, when winterbegins in order tokeep the blues away.

"I don't have my family here. Therefore I have to find ways of compensating," she says.