Defeating SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder): A Guide to Health and Happiness Through All Seasons

by Norman E. Rosenthal M.D.

Overview

Dr. Norman Rosenthal, is the author of the bestselling Poetry Rx released last year to rave reviews including:

• NY Times The Well Book List of 8 Favorite Books in 2021 for Healthy Living
• And The subject of a NY Times op ed by Jane Brody

Now in his landmark new book, Defeating SAD, Rosenthal, who first described Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and is the foremost authority on the subject, offers an up to date guide to overcoming the miseries and that millions experience with the changing seasons. In his lively style, Rosenthal offers advice on how to identify, treat and overcome both winter and summer varieties of seasonal affective disorder, as well as the less severe yet bothersome winter blues.

Having pioneered the use of bright light therapy for SAD and relying on his decades of experience treating SAD patients Rosenthal offers strategies and techniques for defeating the condition, including cognitive-behavioral approaches, diet and exercise advice, medication and meditation.

Rosenthal’s warm and friendly professional style will leave the reader feeling as though he has been treated to a consultation with a consummate professional, who has fascinating insights into the condition. The book will help show how to optimize your health and well-being through the seasons.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781722506308
Publisher:	G&D Media
Publication date:	08/15/2023
Pages:	238
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Norman E. Rosenthal is the world renowned psychiatrist, researcher, and best-selling author, who first described seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and pioneered the use of light therapy as a treatment during his twenty years at the National Institute of Mental Health. A prolific researcher and author, he has authored or co-authored over three hundred scholarly articles and ten popular books. These include Winter Blues, Poetry Rx, the New York Times bestseller Transcendence and the national bestsellers, The Gift of Adversity and Super Mind.

Editorial Reviews

"Light therapy pioneer Rosenthal offers an all-in-one resource aimed at those suffering from seasonal affective disorder...An extensive primer covering basic SAD knowledge and new developments in diagnosis and treatment . . .  He does an admirable job in making his subject not only relatable, but compelling, charmingly dropping in quotes from William Shakespeare, T.S. Eliot, and Emily Dickinson to drive home certain points.– Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

2023-06-18
Light therapy pioneer Rosenthal offers an all-in-one resource aimed at those suffering from seasonal affective disorder.

The author, one of the original scientists at the National Institute of Mental Health who first described seasonal affective disorder, shares his deep knowledge of the condition characterized as “regular depressions that occur in the fall and winter.” His differentiation between SAD and the “winter blues” clarifies the severity of each, and a Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire is included to help readers self-diagnose. Rosenthal covers the various scientific theories behind SAD’s origins (including biology, light deprivation, and stress) and gives deep-dive examinations of various treatments. Light therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy have proven particularly helpful for SAD sufferers, but the author consistently emphasizes that it’s the combination of various treatments that actually makes the biggest difference: “The word combine is the most important word in this book, because it emphasizes the value of adding one useful technique to another. Each one may contribute to your overall improvement. Each may make only a small difference, but collectively they can make a huge difference.” Written clearly and concisely, this guide eschews overly scientific “doctor speak.” Instead, Rosenthal at times gets a little too basic when discussing the benefits of healthy eating and exercise and lamenting that SAD is still not part of the “general sphere of knowledge.” Still, he does an admirable job in making his subject not only relatable, but compelling, charmingly dropping in quotes from William Shakespeare, T.S. Eliot, and Emily Dickinson to drive home certain points. An exhaustive list of medications used to treat SAD (along with their side effects and benefits) emphasizes Rosenthal’s desire to present all possible therapies so readers can pick and choose (and combine) what works for them.

An extensive primer covering basic SAD knowledge and new developments in diagnosis and treatment.

Kirkus Reviews