I recently read a great little article about seasonal affective disorder (SAD), and since winter is coming soon…or maybe already upon us…I thought it was a timely topic to write about.
While I have known that SAD exists, I have never known much else about it. Who suffers? Why do people suffer? How do you avoid it?
The article I read in Healthy magazine claims that about 50% of the UK population is affected by it…wow. That is a lot of people. And anywhere between 3% and 10% of those people need medical treatment to help resolve the symptoms!
So what causes it? Well, in simple terms it is a chemical imbalance in the brain caused by not getting enough light. (Hence it is prevalent in the winter months.)
What symptoms does it cause? The most common symptom is depression. Now, this can range from mild episodes of depression to severe depression. Some other symptoms are a desire to sleep more often, being irritable, and even weight gain.
What is used to treat SAD? The first remedy is light therapy. This can be daily sessions in a ‘light box’ or there are lights you can buy to put near you during the day (say, by your desk.) For more serious or longer lasting cases you can use antidepressants or psychotherapy. Whatever you decide to do, consult with your doctor about it.
Lastly, for the most important tip…how do you avoid SAD in the first place? If you know you tend to feel down in the winter months, make a plan to change your habits this year. Here are a few things you can do:
- Get outside during the day! Even if the weather is miserable you can still get the necessary light your body needs.
- Try St. John’s Wort. Some say that this has a positive effect on the brain (similar to antidepressants.)
- Stay active! Keep up your exercise routine during the winter months. If that means going to a gym instead of being outside, go for it. You will feel great.
- Make sure you are getting Omega 3 fatty acids. You can get these essential fatty acids from things like fish and pumpkin seeds, or you can take a supplement.
- And my personal favorite: Keep thinking about summer coming! It is not really that far away!
