The gloom of winter seems to get
inside some people, the dark affecting their moods as well as their days. Known
as seasonal affective disorder (SAD), this form of depression affects about 1%
to 2% of the population. Although it strikes all genders and ages, women are
more likely to develop SAD than men, and young people are more likely to
develop it than older people.
SAD
seems to be triggered by decreased exposure to daylight. Typically, it arrives
during the fall or winter months and subsides in the spring. Symptoms are
similar to general depression and include lethargy, loss of interest in
once-pleasurable activities, interpersonal problems, irritability, inability to
concentrate, and changes in sleeping patterns, appetite, or both.
Experts
don’t fully understand the cause of SAD, but leading theories place the blame
on an out- of-sync body clock or on improper levels of either the hormone
melatonin or the neurotransmitter serotonin.
Some crisis
event which may have taken during winter may drag this mood disorder every
winter. Particularly there is not so much of suicidal ideation but a feeling of
underachievement may continue to ruminate along with acute fear like in panic
disorder. (Klub Psychology)
The
mainstay of SAD treatment is light therapy, also called phototherapy.
Phototherapy involves daily sessions of sitting close to a special light source
that is far more intense than normal indoor light. The recommendation is
typically to get 30 minutes of exposure to light at an intensity of 10,000 lux
each day, but optimum dosing remains a major question. Some people need more
light exposure than this, others need less.
The
light must enter through the eyes to be effective; skin exposure doesn't seem
to work. Some people feel better after only one light treatment, but most people
require at least a few days of treatment, and some need several weeks. You do
not need a prescription to purchase a light box to treat SAD; however it’s best
to work with a professional to monitor the benefits of the treatment.
Some
SAD light boxes look like medical equipment, while others are more like regular
table lamps. The prices vary. Although professional groups and government
agencies endorse light therapy, your insurance company may balk. If you are
counting on coverage, better check first.
Source:
Harvard Medical School
Reviewed by: Klub Psychology
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