"The Winter Blah's"
Sometimes
known as:
Seasonal
Affective Disorder
What is
Seasonal
Affective Disorder?
Some people suffer from symptoms of depression
during the winter months, with symptoms subsiding
during
the spring and summer months.
This may be a sign of Seasonal Affective
Disorder (SAD).
SAD is a mood disorder associated with depression
episodes and related to seasonal variations of light.
SAD was first noted
before 1845, but was not
officially named
until the early 1980’s. As sunlight has affected the
seasonal activities
of animals (i.e., reproductive cycles and hibernation),
SAD may be an effect of this seasonal light variation
in humans.
As seasons change, there is a shift in our “biological
internal clocks”
or circadian rhythm, due partly to these changes in
sunlight patterns.
This can cause our biological clocks to be out of
“step”
with our daily schedules. The most difficult months for
SAD sufferers are January and February,
and younger persons and women are at higher risk.
Though the exact reasons
are not known, some
theories suggest
that SAD may be caused by the reduction of daylight
hours
which may disrupt our biological body clocks,
which in turn may disturb circadian rhythms within our
body.
Symptoms of SAD are
similar to depression and
include disturbed
sleep patterns, difficulty waking up, apathy,
sadness and decreased physical activity.
Treatments:
Phototherapy or bright
light therapy has been shown to
suppress
the brain’s secretion
of melatonin. Although, there
have been
no research findings to
definitely link this therapy
with an antidepressant
effect, many people respond to
this treatment.
The device most often
used today is a bank of white
fluorescent lights on a
metal reflector and
shield with a plastic screen.
For mild symptoms,
spending time outdoors during the day or arranging homes and workplaces
to receive more
sunlight may be helpful.
One study found that an
hour’s walk in winter sunlight
was as effective as two and a half hours under bright
artificial light.
If phototherapy doesn’t
work, an
antidepressant drug may prove
effective in reducing or
eliminating SAD symptoms,
but there may be unwanted side
effects to consider.
Discuss your symptoms thoroughly
with your family doctor
and/or mental health professional.
From the desk of
Mary
"Spring is around the Corner so
those of you that suffer
from SAD will soon feel
more emergetic, less depressed
and sleeping better"!
Happy Spring!
Mary T.
