Once the dark cold winter sets in, it's not uncommon for people start to feeling the same way inside—bleak, tired, wanting comfort food and ready to hibernate until spring. If you start to feel a little blue as the winter progresses, you are not alone.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that occurs with diminished sunlight and not only affects mood, but also areas of the brain responsible for sleep, heart rate and blood pressure, appetite, weight regulation and sexual function.
SAD occurs in about 3% of people and more often in women, according to Linda Carpenter, MD, chief of Butler Hospital's Mood Disorders Program and Neuromodulation Clinic.
Carpenter explains symptoms vary from one person to the next, but may include:
If you think you may be struggling with SAD, contact your doctor or mental health professional. They may prescribe a medication known to boost your serotonin level in the brain, which is thought to contribute to feelings of well-being and happiness.
Additionally, "There's a medicine that has been shown to prevent SAD before it even starts in individuals who are vulnerable," Carpenter says.
If you prefer alternatives, your physician may suggest phototherapy, or exposure to artificial light, which has been shown to be beneficial in treating SAD. Not any light source will do, though. You need to purchase one that emits the appropriate amount of "lux," or luminance, recommended by your physician.
Newer light sources use LED technology, and may be more portable and more comfortable. A person should not start light therapy without consulting their physician or psychiatrist since it can worsen certain eye conditions. Talk therapy with a licensed therapist can also be effective.
Whether medications or light treatment alone is used, or a combination of both, anyone with SAD can benefit from making healthy lifestyle changes that can reduce symptoms, such as:
You can also help a loved one with SAD by:
So how long does it take to feel better once spring rolls around and the days get longer? "In general, mood improvement tends to correlate with the lengthening of daylight; so, most people are feeling substantially better by the time spring is in full bloom," says Dr. Carpenter.
For more information please visit the Mood Disorders Program or call (844) 401-1114.