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Seasonal Affective Disorder: What exactly is it?
Is
there any such thing as Seasonal Affective Disorder?
T he
tired feeling and depressed mood that some people experience is now being
commonly referred to as Seasonal Affective Disorder. According to statistics
provided by the American Academy of Family Physicians, as many as six of every
100 people in the United States have winter depression or Seasonal Affective
Disorder (SAD). Another 10% to 20% may experience some mild form of SAD. It
seems to be more common in women than men and although some children and
teenagers get SAD, it usually doesn’t start in people younger than 20 years of
age. For adults, the risk of SAD decreases as they get older. SAD is
more common in northern geographic regions.
Where
does Seasonal Affective Disorder come from and what are the symptoms?
It is noticed that animals react to the
changing seasons in mood and behavior, and human beings are no exception. Most
people have a tendency to eat and sleep a little more in the winter and dislike
the dark mornings and short days. For some, it seems to have a more intense
effect in disrupting their lives and causing significant distress. The actual
symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder include:
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A change in appetite, especially a craving for sweet or starchy foods
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Weight gain
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A heavy
feeling in the arms or legs
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A drop in
energy level
-
Fatigue
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A tendency
to oversleep
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Difficulty
concentrating
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Irritability
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Increased
sensitivity to social rejection
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Avoidance
of social situations
The
symptoms tend to start around September of each year lasting until April, and
seem to be at their worst in the darkest months. The problem seems to stem from
a lack of bright light in the winter. Researchers have proven that bright light
makes a difference to the brain chemistry, although they are not sure by what
means that sufferers are affected. It is not psychosomatic or an imaginary
illness.
What
is the treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder?
Find a
beach or a place to ski. While going to a brightly-lit climate or snowy slope is
indeed a cure, many people do not have that opportunity. As the cause of Seasonal
Affective Disorder is
due to a lack of bright light, the treatment in many cases may be to use bright
light every day using a light box or similar light therapy device. The objective
is to allow the light to reach the eyes for between a 1/4 and 3/4 of an hour
daily to alleviate the symptoms. If light therapy works you’ll probably need to
continue it until enough sunlight is available, typically in the springtime.
Caution should be used for individuals with some psychiatric illnesses including
manic depression. Tanning beds should not be used to treat SAD, due to the
damaging effects of the ultraviolet rays on both your eyes and skin. Other
alternatives may include behavior therapy or medicine to treat symptoms of Seasonal
Affective Disorder.
If light therapy or medicine alone doesn’t work, your doctor may want to use
them together.
By Paul
Susic MA Licensed Psychologist Ph.D Candidate
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