Last weekend the clocks went back which means for all of us
that Winter has arrived.
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| Aaron Burden |
What are the best ways to treat it?
S.A.D is a particular form of major depression, triggered
by changes in the seasons. It might be
that you suffer from a lack of energy, a reduction in the enjoyment of
activities or that you need more sleep than normal. Some cases of S.A.D are so affected, and
these symptoms are so severe that they are literally unable to work or function
normally.
In addition to these depressive episodes, S.A.D is
characterised by other symptoms
Chronic Oversleeping and Extreme cravings for Carbohydrates
– which in turn will lead to weight gain.
To clarify – In usual cases of severe depression the suffer will show disrupted
sleep patterns and a loss of appetite.
Make no mistake, S.A.D is not a lighter version of
depression in reality the two are the same illness and those who truly have
S.A.D are equally as ill as those with major depressive episodes.
Around 10-15% of the population
has sub-syndromal
S.A.D. These individuals struggle through autumn and winter and suffer from
many of the same symptoms, but they do not have clinical depression. And in the
northern hemisphere, as many as one in three of us may suffer from “winter
blues” where we feel flat or disinterested in things and regularly fatigued.
One theory for why this condition exists is related
to evolution.
Around
80% of S.A.D sufferers are women, particularly those in early adulthood. In
older women, the prevalence of S.A.D goes down and some researchers believe
that this pattern is linked to the behavioural cycles of our ancient ancestors.
“Because it affects such a large proportion of the population in a mild to
moderate form, a lot of people in the field do feel that S.A.D is a remnant
from our past, relating to energy conservation,” says Robert
Levitan, a professor at the University of Toronto. “Ten thousand years ago,
during the ice age, this biological tendency to slow down during the wintertime
was useful, especially for women of reproductive age because pregnancy is very
energy-intensive.”
But now we have a 24-hour
society, we’re expected to be active all the time and it’s a nuisance. However,
as to why a small proportion of people experience it so severely that it’s
completely disabling, we don’t know.
For those on the S.A.D spectrum,
there are treatments available – some are more Holistic in their approach, such
as Bright-Light
Therapy
This is an artificial means of
stimulation and stimulates the brain.
According to the Mayo Clinic website it is very important to use a S.A.D
specific ultraviolet filtered light otherwise it can be dangerous.
For those most severe, this
could be combined with antidepressant therapy but if you suffer from S.A.D you
should always speak to your own GP.
