“Winter blues” may be treatable disorder
It’s that time of year when the world falls apart.
Although for many the winter season means holidays and outdoor activities, millions of Americans are plagued with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), also known as Seasonal Depression, which prohibits them from living happily during the colder and darker months.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, SAD is a clinical form of depression that usually strikes starting in October and lasts through April. It’s caused by reactions to change in environmental light.
Symptoms include lethargy, fatigue, increased appetite and carbohydrate craving, weight gain, withdrawal from relationships, inability to focus, problems at work and home as well as anxiety and despair.
It is estimated that 10 million Americans suffer from SAD and as many as 35 million Americans suffer from subsyndromal SAD which is less debilitating.
Although many people suffer from mood changes with the change of the season, SAD is an extreme form of common mood swings.
Research of the condition has focused on the changes of the brain chemicals melatonin and serotonin when exposed to different lengths of light and darkness, according to General Nutrition Center’s (GNC), www.gnc.com. Studies have also shown that almost four times as many women than men are affected by seasonal depression.
The most popular and successful treatment for seasonal depression is light therapy. Many people confuse light therapy with going to a tanning booth, when in reality the two are very different. Light therapy devices, which can be bought on a smaller scale to be used in the home, use many different colors and light waves to rejuvenate the body.
Light therapy was first reported by Norman E. Rosenthal, M.D., in the Psychiatric Times article “NIMH, JAMA Shed Light on Seasonal Affective Disorder” to regulate brain chemistry by increasing blood flow to certain parts of the brain as well as regulating the production of melatonin and serotonin.
Serenity, a new-age health and beauty store located at 29 W. 100 North, offers light therapy. Owner Cindy Mann was previously on anti-depressants for 15 years and has found that light therapy has helped her more than her medication ever did.
“I think it’s very helpful. I’ve used it for my depression and for the first time in 15 years I don’t have to take anti-depressants. Light helps with any kind of depression,” Mann said.
The spectra-color bed used at Serenity uses no harmful lights and provides rejuvenation the body misses during winter months because of the lower exposure to natural sunlight. Mann and other clients ordinarily use the bed for 30 minutes once a week. A 30-minute session costs $25 which Mann said in the long run usually saves people money because the need for medication goes down. Mann also said light therapy is much more relaxing and enjoyable than taking medication.
Mann has found many people suffering from depression have been receptive to light therapy but many don’t yet know of the option of light treatment in the area. Some psychiatrists in the area have contacted Mann about their support of light therapy and their excitement of having the option nearby for patients.
Although SAD is most common in winter months, Mental Health Infosource reports that some people suffer from a type of “hypomania” in the summer where energy and irritability are increased while sleep is decreased and weight also may decrease. At times, “hypomania” also causes people to act at higher levels than usual, such as going on irrational shopping sprees or taking on too many projects.