Leaves are falling as fast as my good spirit

Autumn is a colourful season of pumpkin spiced lattes and conkers.

I hate it all.

For the first time in my life, I'm suffering with the autumn blues. When my alarm screeches out to a pitch black room at 5.30 in the morning, I want to cry. Even if I've had my eight hours sleep or more, I feel unmotivated and miserable and it gets no better as I begin my day.

By the time I reach the office just before eight, the sun is still far from having his hat on and I still want to cry.

Coming in to see my friends and colleagues is all that drags me out of the darkness. Trying to collect my thoughts enough to concentrate on eight hours of writing is a fresh struggle that leaves me exhausted by the four o'clock finish.

I go home and unless I pop into the pub to further shake the feeling of sadness, get straight into bed to repeat the whole thing over again.

I'm not the only one that struggles with this type of sadness. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) affects around two million people in the UK.

SAD is sometimes known as winter depression, an illness that causes low mood and a lack of interest in life. Sufferers become less active than normal and sleep more too.

Sadly for so many, the symptoms are most severe during December, January and February. Dauntingly, this means that the road to spring looks longer, and darker, than ever.

As with any mental health issue, the symptoms of SAD aren't obvious to the eye. Many people suffer in silence with something that they simply can't shake off or snap out of.

As though feeling this way isn't bad enough, dealing with people telling you to 'cheer up' or 'stop being miserable' is a struggle in itself.

It can be hard, if you've never suffered with depression yourself, to understand how to deal with someone that is.

I expect I'm unbearable at the moment. For a long time, I've avoided going to the doctor. The idea of sitting in a waiting room drives me bonkers and the thought of a doctor sitting there telling me that he's not sure what the problem is makes it worse.

It's a never ending cycle of feeling sad and there being no way out of it.

For so many, Christmas is a sad time anyway, particularly for those that don't have strong family ties or who have lost a loved one. But for those that have SAD to contend with too, things are extra rubbish.

If someone you love is suffering, try your best to understand. It can be frustrating, particularly if they, like me, seem to give off a constant 'wet weekend' vibe. But support them as best you can.

If you're suffering yourself, there are lamps and lights that you can invest in that emulate sunlight, to wake you up with gradual brightness and give you a feeling of general wellbeing that can really help.

More than anything, see a doctor. If you don't feel they're listening, change your doctor! Cognitive behavioural therapy, as well as medication, can help you through.

Most of all, though, look after each other. Treat everyone you meet with a level of kindness and consideration. You never know what they might be going through and a little consideration can go a long way.