Winter Blues, Revised Edition: Everything You Need to Know to Beat Seasonal Affective Disorder (Paperback)

~ (Author) "When the dark days of winter approach, do you feel slowed down and have difficulty waking up in the morning?..." (more)
Key Phrases: overall seasonality score, starting light therapy, seasonal person, United States, New York, Emily Dickinson (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

“I consider Winter Blues to be the SAD bible. Dr. Rosenthal's brilliant research and words of wisdom have provided the nurturing help that so many people have sought when the change of seasons brings sadness instead of joy. This book is 'must' reading.”--Pamela Peeke, MD, MPH, FACP, author of Body for Life for Women and Fight Fat After Forty

"Dr. Rosenthal, a pioneering researcher who helped put seasonal depression on the map, is a also a gifted teacher and storyteller. What do simple algae, hibernating animals, and humans have in common? They all have internal rhythms that respond to the seasons. Follow Dr. Rosenthal as he explores the latest science and treatment of seasonal depression, illustrated with fascinating anecdotes and stories and delivered in his compulsively readable and eloquent style."--Richard A. Friedman, MD, Department of Psychiatry, Weill Medical College of Cornell University

"Winter Blues is a wonderful book. It is deeply knowledgeable from a scientific perspective, as one would expect from one of the world's leading authorities on mood disorders, but it is also a delight to read. Dr. Rosenthal writes beautifully about the human side of the seasons and our profound beholdenness to light, while at the same time providing an invaluable guide to handling the seasonal depressions that affect so many individuals."--Kay Redfield Jamison, PhD, author of An Unquiet Mind and Exuberance

"Wonderfully written and full of vital information by an unequaled expert on the subject. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who, like myself, has the winter blues. Read and heed Dr. Rosenthal's advice. It can change your life."--Jean Carper, columnist, USA Weekend, and author of Miracle Cures

"The light therapy that Dr. Rosenthal recommends has made life worth living during December, January, February, and March for 14 years. I take care of my family, feel like a valuable person, and am a productive professional. Now his new chapter, 'Winter Light,' gives me a recipe for celebrating those once-dreaded months."--LaDonna Green Bates, MSW

Product Description

Winter isn’t a “wonderland” for everyone. Every year, millions of us feel our energy levels ebb and spirits fall as the days grow shorter. The condition is called seasonal affective disorder (SAD), and it can cause depression, reduce your productivity, and make it harder to control your appetite. In this no-nonsense, up-to-date survival kit for weathering the winter blues, Dr. Norman Rosenthal explains what causes seasonal mood swings and what you can do about them. A self-test allows you to evaluate your own level of SAD and helps you determine an appropriate plan of action. The book covers an expanded variety of methods proven to help you feel better--including new developments in light therapy, antidepressant medications, and breakthrough self-help strategies. Convenient menus and easy recipes make sticking to a healthy winter diet more enjoyable, and a new section on the benefits of exercise motivates you to stay active even when it’s gloomy outside. A step-by-step guide helps you organize your yearly schedule to anticipate seasonal changes, and a special chapter for family and friends teaches loved ones effective ways to show support. Like a ray of light on an otherwise cloudy day. Dr. Rosenthal’s expertise, warmth, and enthusiasm will inspire you to reclaim the winter months and find ways to celebrate even the darkest days of the year.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 372 pages
• Publisher: The Guilford Press; Revised edition (September 21, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1593851162
• ISBN-13: 978-1593851163
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #50,694 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #34 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Psychology & Counseling > By Topic > Emotions
  #75 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Aging > Depression
  #79 in	Books > Nonfiction > Social Sciences > Social Work

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very interesting, well-written book, October 22, 2005

By	Leo Sher, M.D. (New Jersey, USA) - See all my reviews

"Winter Blues" is a well-crafted book by Dr. Norman E. Rosenthal, the creator of the contemporary concept of seasonal affective disorder and light therapy, one of the outstanding leaders in the field of mood disorders, and the author of numerous publications including the famous books "The Emotional Revolution" and "St. John's Wort: The Herbal Way to Feeling Good." The first edition of "Winter Blues" was published in 1993. In the past 12 years this book has become a classic reference for the thousands of people who experience seasonal changes in mood and behavior. The new edition is not merely a cosmetic update but an extensive revision of the previous edition. The revised edition of "Winter Blues" provides the readers with the most up-to-date information on the research in the field and reflects new perspectives in appreciating how much we can do to overcome the effects of seasons. The chapter on new research demonstrates the vast accumulation of new information we have gained on the subject of seasonal affective disorder, seasonality, and light treatment. The author describes interesting scientific findings related to the neurobiological mechanisms of seasonality. Other chapters of this book provide the readers with useful information on how to overcome "winter blues" and related topics. I am impressed with the deepness of the author's description of the "holiday blues" and "anniversary reactions." This is a simply written, interesting book. It is a book I certainly recommend to everybody who is interested in natural sciences.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars third of fourth revision - as the research goes on - worth getting, December 1, 2005

By	DKDC (Washington, DC USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

I really liked the first version of this book and this latest revised version has even more information.

Rosenthal writes in a way that keeps your interest high and gives you a summary of the latest research. Wise advice on a shiny silver platter (to mangle a proverb).

Dr. Rosenthal seems to be a good guy. His wisdom, humor and compassion are reflected in his books. I doubt you will be dissapointed!

By the way, I didn't come to this page to review the book - I came to buy it after reading someone else's copy. (Here comes winter!)

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Blues Provides Viable Options, January 4, 2007

By	Phyllis Reid Brewer "SAD Sufferer" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Winter Blues is a very readable book that clearly lays out the causes and symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder. The book doesn't make outrageous claims or offer surefire solutions. What it does is provide a host of possible treatments from which people living with SAD can develop their own plan of attack for alleviating their individual symptoms. The chapters are well laid out making it easy to identify applicable information and go back for quick reviews after the initial reading.