SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder)

There has been much contemporary research into what is often known as 'seasonality', although the label 'Seasonal Affective Disorder' is becoming more commonly recognized. This form of disorder affects peoples' behaviour and mood as they change in conjunction with the changing of the seasons. People in temperate climates (in Canada, Europe and northern parts of the USA) tend to be affected. See if you answer yes or no to the following questions. When winter draws on:

• Do you generally feel depressed, under a malaise of no obvious cause?

• Do you feel the need to eat more, to have more instantaneous food pleasures that cause weight gain?

• Does waking up on a cold, dark, winter morning to start your day seem about as inviting as having teeth pulled?

Responding with a 'yes' to any or all of those questions could indicate that you are one of the millions of people whose lives are affected by SAD. Many people have their lives affected both professionally and personally by their seemingly uncontrollable moods.

The public and the medical community generally accept that SAD exists and one estimate puts as many as 6% of Americans into the category of those affected by what is also known as the "winter blues". Oftentimes, these people may not feel so despondent as to feel it necessary to consult with their doctor, but winter will still make them considerably less creative and productive, in part because they have less energy than during warmer times. All of this may assist a general feeling of being unhappy.

The victims of Seasonal Affective Disorder can be more or less anyone, across all ages and races. However, it should be noted that SAD largely affects people from their 20's through to their 40's and affects women in greater numbers than men, generally on a ratio of 4:1.

Seasonal changes affect people in different ways, on varying levels of severity:

• Mild changes. These are often not so disruptive as to cause any serious changes to a sufferer's daily life.

• Others may be annoyed and somewhat disturbed by such changes, although not upon such a level that it causes them to seek medical help.

• Those suffering from acute SAD have to cope with mood swings and atypical behaviour that can disrupt their lives. Indeed, a certain proportion of the people suffering from SAD claim that they can feel so different from summer to winter, it's as if they are two different people. The first (summer) person being warm, friendly and energetic; the second (winter) person being deprived of the energy that they feel enables them to be warm, friendly and able to cope with the many, small rigors that even a mundane day can bring.

Symptoms

The symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder may seem very familiar to the layperson. There will generally be a sense of depression, anxiety and/or irritability that accompanies the rest of the symptoms, which are:

• Struggling to motivate oneself to get out of bed in the morning

• Feeling lethargic

• Weight gain, probably brought on by an increase in appetite for high carbohydrate foods

• A drop in libido

• Wanting to distance oneself from friends and family

• Struggling to concentrate

When Does SAD Begin?

SAD varies in its severity from person to person and in the same way, this inconsistency also applies to when this disorder begins to take effect. Whereas one individual may be well until late December or January, another individual may struggle to maintain his/her 'summer' mood past September or October. A person who has acute SAD may not emerge from their malaise until April, while a person who is only mildly affected may begin to brighten up around the middle of March. There are people who claim that they are able to predict, to the week, when their symptoms will begin and when they will end. Obviously, someone who lives in a climate where the cold weather begins early e.g. parts of Canada and northern U.S. will begin to experience their symptoms earlier than someone who may live in a generally warmer area (e.g. further south) where the winter weather arrives at a later date.

Can SAD be treated?

Naturally, the cause of this form of malaise, the weather, is not treatable. The only certain way to combat the weather is to escape it. Relocating to an area where the winter is less prevalent in the yearly weather cycle may seem to be a drastic measure but it is a foolproof way to beat the 'winter blues'. Relocating to a warmer climate/area is not an option that is viable for many people, however there are alternative treatments.

An important way to regain some energy is to review one's diet and exercise regime: and if you haven't got one then that could be a sure sign that it is time to start! Diet and exercise can be beneficial not only for the good of the body but also for self-esteem and the ability to assist controlling moodiness.

One of the ways in which SAD affects people is because of the lack of light in the winter; even the daytime can often be overcast and 'dull'. Providing supplemental environmental light as a key part of 'light therapy' will replace the level of light that is missing from the short winter days. The light is supposed to help the individual respond to each day in the same way that he/she would during the summer months. The 'light therapy' is commonly found in a special kind of light fitting or a light box. There are obvious ways in which to increase the intake of light during each day e.g., ensure that you go outdoors during bright days; use more lamps/lights at work and at home. To help simulate a summer morning, it is possible to purchase head-mounted light visors.

Taking SAD Seriously

The first step when treating Seasonal Affective Disorder is to make sure that the sufferer and those close to the sufferer take this condition seriously. If you believe that you may suffer from this disorder then you should consult your doctor. Even after diagnosis, there are people who do not accept that this condition is severe enough to warrant their concern. This lack of self-regard can lead to unnecessary mental hardship. Those people afflicted with SAD need to take steps, like those mentioned in the above paragraph, to alleviate their suffering.

There are support groups available for persons suffering from SAD and joining one of these is a positive step towards negating the effect that this disorder may have upon ones everyday life. Merely by being able to associate with fellow sufferers, one may find comfort. Such groups help to spread information about SAD and the latest treatments available. In addition, fellow group members may be able to give information about lifestyle strategies that they may have adopted, as well as devices that they use, which have improved the quality of their winter lives.

To reiterate: the most important thing at the outset is to recognize that Seasonal Affective Disorder exists. If your doctors' diagnosis is positive, then do not shy away from the significance of this condition, indeed, reduce its significance by taking steps to deal with it and cure those winter blues.

Source: Norman E. Rosenthal MD. "Winter Blues", (The Guilford Press, 1998,
New York).