What is Seasonal Affective Disorder?
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), also known as the winter blues, is a problem among the elderly population that stems from the lack of bright light in the winter. Some know this condition as winter blues. Researchers have proved that bright light makes a difference to the brain chemistry, although the exact means by which sufferers are affected is not yet known. It is not a psychosomatic or imaginary illness. The symptoms tend to start around September each year lasting until April, but are at their worst in the darkest months.
What are the signs of seasonal affective disorder?
Most people find they eat and sleep slightly more in winter and dislike the dark mornings and short days. For some, however, symptoms are severe enough to disrupt their lives and to cause considerable distress. These people are suffering from SAD.
Sleep Problems- oversleeping but not refreshed, cannot get out of bed, needing a nap in the afternoon
Overeating- Carbohydrate craving leading to weight gain
Depression- Despair, guilt, anxiety- normal tasks become frustratingly difficult
Lethargy- Too tired to cope, everything is an effort
Physical Symptoms- Often joint pain or stomach problems, lowered resistance to infection
Treatment
As the cause is lack of bright light, the treatment is to be in bright light everyday by using a lightbox or similar device. (Going to a brightly-lit climate, whether skiing or somewhere hot, is indeed a treatment) The preferred level of light is about as bright as a spring morning on a clear day and for most people sitting in front of a lightbox, allowing the light to reach the eyes, for between 15 and 45 minutes will be sufficient to alleviate symptoms.
(source www.outsidein.co.uk)
Individuals with cataracts or other eye problems should exercise caution in using light therapy. It is best to get medical approval before doing so. Individuals suffering from lupus or those with bi-polar disorder suffering a manic phase ought not to use light therapy.
There is strong anecdotal evidence and a general belief among health researchers that exercise improves mood and self-esteem for a number of reasons. Exercise when combined with outdoor exposure to sunlight can prove very beneficial to those suffering from SAD.
In severe cases, physicians may prescribe a selective serontonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant such as fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), or paroxetine (Paxil). SAD sufferers have also been prescribed trazodone (Desyrel). New antidepressant medications are constantly emerging on the market. Check with your physician on the appropriateness of medication use.
Who Does SAD affect?
Exactly how many people have SAD isn't really known, but it's estimated that about 6 percent of Americans suffer from winter SAD, and another 10 percent to 20 percent may experience mild SAD symptoms. It's also more common in women than in men.
What causes SAD is unclear, but it may have to do with the amount of sunlight you receive. Although SAD can affect people anywhere, it becomes more common the farther north you live — perhaps because these areas of the planet experience decreased daylight for months at a time.(source.mayoclinic)