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If you find yourself sluggish, lacking motivation and down in the dumps around Christmas and New Year for no reason, but feel normal throughout most of the year, you just may be suffering from more than just winter blues. In fact, many people who display these warning signs year after year actually experience a condition known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
Symptoms include fatigue, increased need for sleep, decreased energy levels, weight gain, an increase in appetite, difficulty concentrating and increased desire to be alone. According to Clevelandclinic.org, between 4 and 6 percent of Americans suffer from SAD. While the exact cause is not known, many professionals believe these behavioral changes are caused by decreased exposure to sunlight.
“During winter months, the days are shorter. There’s less sunlight … it’s mostly gloomy, and the disorder is triggered by the change of seasons,” explains Len Bowles, linkage coordinator with Behavioral Health Link, the parent company of Georgia Crisis Access Line. “In contrast though, symptoms of the disorder are almost nonexistent during the summer when it’s hot and sunny. In most cases, people don’t even remember the winter depression during the summer.”
There are several treatment options for addressing seasonal affective disorder. Depending upon the patient, some treatments may be used in conjunction with others. –cw
1. Light therapy: The most common process in which the sufferer is placed in a roomwith a bright light box that simulates sunlight.
2. Antidepressant medication: The most prescribed drugs for seasonal affective disorder are fluoxetine, sertraline, paroxetine and the stimulant drug Modafinil.
3. Therapy with a trained professional: “Therapy involves a third person, an unbiased lis-
tener,” says Bowles. “A lot of times when you talk about it with a loved one, you’re con-
cerned that what you say may hurt their feelings. But when you’re in therapy, it’s your dime. You’re not worried how they’re going to take it [or] if they’re going to judge me. Your family and loved ones may take it personal[ly].”
4. Proper diet and exercise. Exercising for 30 minutes a day, three times a week, and eating a well-balanced diet with sufficient vitamins and minerals helps increase energy.
5. Understanding and support from loved ones: When people hear about problems, sometimes a person doesn’t want you to give them a solution. They just need you to listen.
Listening is the most effective way for loved ones to help.
