Seasonal Affective Disorder: A Personal Fight

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is categorized as a mood disorder that occurs around the same time every year. It is extremely common, as there are more than three million cases in the United States yearly. Typically, there is no specific age range that suffers from SAD. However, it is rare for children younger than thirteen to be affected.

SAD has generally been treated the same way as the standard case of depression - with medication. Drugs like Zoloft, Prozac or other prescriptions are often thrown at people with hopes that they will aid them and alleviate the depression they are feeling.

BUT.

Instead of numbing people with medication, we ought to consider more natural modes of defense. There are three simple ways that the sufferer of SAD can fight back against the disorder.

Let there be light.

• ·        Light therapy boxes have become increasingly popular over the last few years. They are illuminated boxes that mimic sunlight but are brighter than regular bulbs. The boxes have different wavelengths and can be adjusted accordingly. The user is recommended to sit in front of the light for thirty minutes a day. Doing so causes a chemical change in the brain and is said to lift the mood of the user as well as suppress the body’s natural release of melatonin.
• ·        A dawn simulation alarm may also be used to help. Dawn simulations act as alarm clocks, except instead of a loud noise or song it sends out light and gradually increases to simulate a sunrise. The increase in light over time has been shown to help sufferers of SAD wake up easier.
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Get out and exercise.

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•       Most people who suffer from SAD report weight gain as a result of oversleeping, overeating, and lack of exercise. Exercising releases hormones from the pituitary gland at the base of the brain and makes people feel exhilarated and happy. It can also block feelings of pain, which is often what allows people to continue to exercise even though they are tired or hurting. Releasing these endorphins can directly help fight SAD.

3.     Stick to a schedule.

•       The biggest issue with SAD is that those affected have trouble sleeping. They typically have a hard time falling asleep and an even harder time getting up from sleeping. Sticking to a schedule helps promote normal sleeping patterns and will ease that process.
• ·         Sticking to a schedule also helps with diet. Eating at, or near, the same time everyday helps the body digest and makes it easier to monitor food intake. Doing this will help the affected with not overeating and thus gaining weight.