Seasonal
Affective Disorder
As the winter
approaches and the days get shorter, some people experience a
form of depression called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) -
an extreme case of the “winter blues” that is relieved during
the spring and summer months.
Although SAD
isn’t totally understood, it is a real illness with sometimes
severe symptoms. As seasons change, there is a shift in our “biological
internal clocks” or circadian rhythms, partly in response to the
changes in sunlight patterns. This can cause our biological clocks
to fall out of step with our daily schedules. For people with
SAD, their bodies have a difficult time adjusting to the shortage
of sunlight in the winter months. SAD symptoms are most pronounced
in January and February, when the days are shortest.
Young people
and women are at the highest risk for the disorder, but it can
affect anyone. In fact, an estimated 25 percent of the population
suffers from mild winter SAD, and about 5 percent suffer from
a more severe form of the disorder.
For mild symptoms,
spending time outdoors during the day or arranging homes and workplaces
to receive more sunlight may be helpful. Regular exercise—particularly
if done outdoors—may help because exercise can relieve depression.
One study found that an hour’s walk in winter sunlight was as
effective as two and a half hours under bright artificial light.
For more severe
symptoms, a light treatment called phototherapy might help. The
device most often used today is a light box that emits very bright
light through a filter. SAD patients sit in front of the light
box for a few minutes everyday while they work or do other activities.
For further
information on SAD go to http://www.nmha.org/infoctr/factsheets/27.cfm
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