Winter is just around the corner – no need to remind you of that. In many places in North America we have already experienced some very nasty weather.
With nasty weather comes darker and greyer days. We miss our sunshine shot of Vitamin D and many of us experience a shift in mood and attitude. We know what’s coming: Seasonal Affective Disorder.
WEBMD tells us that Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is a type of depression that affects a person during the same season each year. If you get depressed in the winter but feel much better in spring and summer, you may have SAD.
Anyone can get SAD, but it is more common in:
• People who live in areas where winter days are very short or there are big changes in the amount of daylight in different seasons.
•Women.
• People between the ages of 15 and 55. The risk of getting SAD for the first time goes down as you age. n People who have a close relative with SAD. If you have SAD, you may feel sad, grumpy, moody, or anxious; lose interest in your usual activities, eat more and crave carbohydrates, such as bread and pasta or gain weight.
Doctors often prescribe light therapy to treat SAD. There are two types of light therapy:
• Bright light treatment. For this treatment, you sit in front of a “light box” for half an hour or longer, usually in the morning.
• Dawn simulation. For this treatment, a dim light goes on in the morning while you sleep, and it gets brighter over time, like a sunrise.
Light therapy works well for most people with SAD, and it is easy to use. You may start to feel better within a week or so after you start light therapy. But you need to stick with it and use it every day until the season changes. If you don’t, your depression could come back.
You may feel better if you get regular exercise. Being active during the daytime, especially first thing in the morning, may help you have more energy and feel less depressed. Moderate exercise such walking, riding a stationary bike, or swimming is a good way to get started.
