The Sun Is Not Just For Tanning

We used to call it “cabin fever.” Many people find themselves eating more and sleeping more when the nights become longer and the sun disappears from the sky sooner. Today, there’s a scientific name for it—seasonal affective disorder (SAD)―and evidence indicates that in some people it’s a serious reaction to the shift from autumn to winter.

The short days trigger feelings of depression, lethargy, and fatigue in some people. This is not the “winter blues” that you have to get through on your own. It’s far more serious than that. SAD is a type of depression and it severely impairs the daily lives of many people. Genetics and age may be involved in who comes down with this insidious kind of depression.

The hormone melatonin is produced by our brains during the hours of darkness. This hormone helps regulate sleep, body temperature, and the release of other hormones. The amount of hormone produced is always a significant factor in how well or how ill a person is. Those who have SAD produce too much melatonin, causing a disruption of the internal clock, and this is what leads to the symptoms such as irritability, anxiety, hopelessness, lack of energy, social withdrawal, oversleeping, changes in appetite etc.

SAD is cyclic and seasonal, which is to say that the signs and symptoms come and go at the same time every year. SAD can be reversed so that some people suffer from it in the summer instead of the winter. Symptoms may be mild at first and then grow more severe as time goes on and there is no relief.

Treatment

Treatment can help victims of this disorder manage it successfully. Medications are sometimes prescribed, but so is light therapy. The kind of light, the amount of time, and how far the patient is from the light are all crucial and must be determined by a specialist. The eyes must be open although the patient does not need to look directly into the light.

The light itself is specially designed. The illumination is much more intense than incandescent bulbs can produce typically. Treatments are typically 30-60 minutes although this may vary. Morning is usually considered the most effective time for the treatments but the schedule varies by the patient.

Medications may include antidepressants and bupropion although light therapy has been shown to have an earlier improvement, generally within a week, than medications. Most therapists consider this a disorder of the body clock. In other words, the circadian rhythms seem to be out of sync.

Side Effects

There are possible side effects:

• Eye strain
• Headaches
• Insomnia
• Bipolar or manic episodes in those who also have those disorders

This illness was first diagnosed in Nordic countries in the 6^th century. It was first proposed as a form of depression in the United States in 1984. Women are more likely to be affected than men. It’s good news that there is treatment available; no one needs to experience this disorder alone and without help.

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