SAD.  Seasonal Affective Disorder

Seasonal Affective Disorder

When feeling 'blue' is more than  depression.  

Written by Vicki Childs, Registered Counsellor, Clinical Hypnotherapist, Holistic Healer.

Do the colder months have you feeling depressed, lonely, sleeping more, with cravings, uninterested in normal hobbies or activities, and general low mood?

For most us the winter months see a decrease in activity, however, for some individuals, the winter months, shorter days and resulting lack of exposure to sunlight and outdoor activities can have a more sinister effect. 

If you're a person who normally enjoys good health and a robust constitution, it can come as a complete shock when you find yourself with a whole swag of symptoms that seem to occur with the heralding of winter. 

While many attribute this state to the 'Winter Blues', it can be completely debilitating.   

Interestingly, it may be more than 'just depression.'  You may be suffering from SAD.   SAD is Seasonal Affective Disorder. 

It is often referred to as Winter Depression as it mainly occurs in Winter.  There is a Summer SAD too, but it is far less common. 

SAD is thought to be caused by changes in light exposure in the different seasons. 

Sypmtoms may start out as mild and manageable.  As the coller months continue and the season progresses, some people find a huge uptick in symptoms, to the point that often you can become bed ridden in severe cases. 

There is no definitve cause for seasonal affective disorder. 

Researchers do know that the shorter days and less exposure to sunlight causes our circadian rhythms and body clock to produce less melatonin, which in turn may cause a lack of serotonin (the feel good hormone.)

Current research shows that approximately 4 to 6 per cent of Australians suffer from SAD, with a further 20% of the Australian population being unaware of seasonal affective disorder and more than likely suffering some form of the disorder.

Some interesting facts about SAD include:

• It is more likely to affect females
• It affects the young
  
• There is often a family history of SAD
  
• It is more common the further you live away from the equator
• It may be transitory, resolving in the warmer months
• It may be mild and manageable, or it may be severe and completely debilitating
• It is estimated that 4 to 6% of Australians suffer from sad, with a further 20% being unaware of its existence

Winter Symptoms of SAD

• Low Mood
• Sleeping more
• Lack of energy
• Severe Lethargy
• Cravings (normally sugar and carbohydrates)
• Weight Gain
• Losing Interest in life
• Feeling melancholy
• Apathy
• Change in habits, motivation and daily activities
• Finding it hard to get out of bed and get moving
• Feeling unusually irritable or annoyed for no apparent reason
• Change in personality
• Seeking isolation 

Treatment of SAD

Thankfully, there are many options available to treat SAD.

Some of these include:

• LIghtbox therapy (LUX Light 10,000 Units minimum)
• Increased Vitamin D Therapy
• Counselling - Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
• Neurofeedback
  
• Making your home as light filled as possible
• When working on electronic devices, trying to work in front of a light filled window
• Getting outside in direct sunlight for 30-60 minutes a day with your eyes exposed (no sunglasses.)
• Being patient and understanding with yourself.
• Accepting that Winter SAD is transient and generally resolves with the end of the season, providing there is no concurrent diagnosis of clinical depression or anxiety.

Seasonal Affective Disorder is a very real thing.  The DSM-5, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders refers to it as 'Sesonal Pattern' and 'Sesonal Depressive Disorder.'

Help is readily available for SAD.  Please book an appointment if you think you may be suffering SAD to work through treatment options.