Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), also known as Winter Disorder or Winter Blues, is a mood disorder which affects people during winter months or when there is a low level of sunlight for an extended period of time. This low level of sunlight causes people to experience symptoms of depression. Once the level of sunlight returns to a higher level, their symptoms go away.
Seasonal Affective Disorder Symptoms
Seasonal Affective Disorder has several of the same symptoms as chronic depression when the patient experiences it during the winter months. During summer months, different symptoms may appear, almost as the opposite side of the coin of his or her experiences during the winter. It can be frustrating for the person suffering from SAD because in many cases, they may not realize what is going on and it may take several years to diagnose.
Winter Symptoms
· Lower level of energy
· Difficult to concentrate
· Tired and sluggish
· Increased appetite and weight gain
· Desire to be alone, away from other people
· Need to sleep longer, more
Summer Symptoms
· Decreased appetite and weight loss
· Trouble sleeping, insomnia
· Anxiousness, edgy feeling
Seasonal Affective Disorder Diagnosis
Diagnosing Seasonal Affective Disorder can be complicated because many people who suffer from SAD may not realize they have this condition for several years or they may also suffer from other types of depression. The American Psychiatric Association has four criteria that determine if a patient has SAD.
· Patient experiences depression symptoms at a certain time of year
· Symptoms disappear at a certain time of year
· This pattern has occurred for at least 2 years with no other non-seasonal depression symptoms
· These seasonal depression symptoms outnumber all other depression symptoms over the patient’s lifetime
Seasonal Affective Disorder Treatment
There are several different treatment options for Seasonal Affective Disorder. Several of these involve light therapies that simulate the sunlight that the patient is missing. There are also various drug therapies that can be effective as well.
· Light Box – a light box with a bulb that emits full spectrum white light that the patient sits near for 30-60 minutes, usually in the morning, can be extremely effective in providing the sunlight that a person needs to alleviate symptoms.
· Dawn Simulation – sometimes found to be even more effective than a light box, dawn simulation involves setting up lights to come on gradually in the early morning to simulate dawn. This gradually wakes the patient up in a natural way and by using the full spectrum light bulbs, provides the proper amount of extra light that the patient needs to alleviate depression symptoms.
· SSRI antidepressants – having more serotonin in the brain can help patients with their SAD symptoms, so these types of antidepressants can be very helpful.
· Melatonin – in carefully timed doses, some patients have found that this naturally occurring hormone can help reset sleep rhythms and alleviate SAD symptoms.
· Modafinil – a sleep apnea drug, this stimulant is also shown to help with SAD symptoms.
· Negative air ionization – some patients find relief by breathing in negatively charged air ions while they sleep.
If you feel you may be suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder, see your doctor for a diagnosis. There are effective treatments out there so you don’t have to suffer anymore. Don’t let another winter get you down!
