By
Shannon Morehouse, MA, CHHC
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that can
severely impair your life. Symptoms of SAD begin with the shift from
autumn to winter and include feelings of depression, hopelessness,
and angst, loss of energy, uncontrollable appetite, difficulty waking up
in the morning, loss of interest in your favorite activities, irritability,
loss of interest in physical contact or sex, and weight gain. Problems
may worsen as winter progresses, and may dissipate when spring
finally arrives.
SAD, a term coined by U.S. doctor Norman E. Rosenthal in 1984,
should be taken seriously because it is a form of clinical depression.
Doctors and researchers believe that the culprits of SAD can be one
or more of the following: a disruption in your body's circadian rhythm,
increased levels
of melatonin, or
decreased levels
of serotonin.
With the reduced
sunlight during the
winter months,
your body's circadian rhythm (your internal clock that lets you know
when to sleep and wake) may become offset, which often results
in depression. Because your melatonin (a sleep-related hormone)
levels may increase in the long nights of winter, you may experience
depression from oversleeping. And drops in serotonin (sometimes
referred to as the good mood hormone) may also cause
depression. The most clinically proven method for treating SAD is
"light therapy." Light therapy involves using full-spectrum
light boxes or bulbs specifically designed for people with
mild to severe symptoms of SAD. They mimic outdoor
light, prompting a biochemical change in your brain
that uplifts your mood. The box or bulb should provide
5,000-10,000 lux of illumination (the average domestic
or office lights emits only 200-500 lux) at a comfortable
sitting distance. Full-spectrum lights effectively treat SAD
by balancing your melatonin and serotonin levels
