Seasonal Affective Disorder ?
Do you get the Winter Blues? Maybe you are suffering Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), seasonal depression- a mood disorder becoming increasingly recognised by medical professionals.
As Summer gives way to Autumn and then to Winter, the days grow greyer, the daylight hours less.
Many people find themselves lacking in energy and motivation, feeling lethargic and yes...depressed.
What SAD treatment is available to you?
What are the Symptoms of SAD,
Seasonal Depression
The depression-like symptoms of S.A.D can include: -
Fatigue
- Irritability
- Weight gain
- A heavy feeling in the limbs
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A craving for sweet and starchy foods
- Avoidance of social situations
- Desire or tendency to oversleep
Symptoms are at their worst in the darkest month. The problem seems to arise from the lack of bright light in the winter. Other factors suggested are changes to circadian rhythms.
So how does Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) differ from general depression? It is characterized by - recurrent depressions that occur annually at the same time each year.'
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symptoms present themselves through the winter months and disappear in the spring - some sufferers liken it to a 'hibernation response.
SAD was first defined in 1984 by NA Rosenthal who published his findings in the Archives of General Psychiatry on the use of light therapy to treat symptoms of seasonal depression.
In the United States up to 6 in every 100 people
experience this form of Winter Depression while in the U.K. estimates suggest that over 2 million people suffer from the condition, commonly known also as the Winter Blues
More prevalent in Northern geographic areas, particularly those with less daylight winter hours. The reported age of onset varyies between early adulthood and older but it is agreed that Seasonal Affective Disorder SAD is more prevalent in women than men.
What is the Treatment for SAD / the Winter Blues?
Treat yourself a seasonal affective disorder light.
Light therapy (phototherapy) appears to be the most widely used and effective treatment for this type of depression, though duration and intensity of the light to be used remains controversial.
General guidelines suggest regular exposure, morning and night to a sufficiently bright light (approx. 25 times as bright as a normal living-room light). Phototherapy, as it has become known is available through the use of 'light boxes' or full spectrum lights used for around 30 minutes daily.
You may prefer to be woken gently with the light from a 'bodyclock or natural light alarm clocks' also referred to as 'dawn simulators.'
There are many different models at prices to suit all pockets.
NOTE:Though you may like to top up your tan in the winter months and this will likely have a positive effect on your mood, it is not a recommended treatment for SAD.
And of course you may be able to take a leaf from nature and copy our feathered friends ....fly South for the winter. It seems that short periods in a climate characterized by bright light, such as the Caribbean, or the Mediterranean can achieve similar results.
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