Home >
Home And Family >
Family History
SAD mainly affects young people and women. Here are the latest facts. **Any time you think you might be suffering from depression, you should consult with your personal physician.** **This is not medical advice; however if you're not familiar with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), it's something you need to know about.**
1. SAD affects about 5% of the population seriously.
2. Sad affects about 25% of the population in its milder form -- "the winter blues."
3. SAD is a real illness with sometimes severe symptoms, says the National Mental Health Association (NMHA), though it's not completely understood yet.
4. Young people and women are at higher risk.
5. Melatonin, a sleep-related hormone secreted by the pineal gland in the brain, is believed to be the cause.
According to the NMHA, "Melatonin is believed to cause symptoms of depression and is produced at increased levels in the dark." So when the days are shorter and darker ..."
6. When the seasons change, so do our circadian rhythms ("biological internal clocks), partly in response to the changes in the sunlight patterns and this, too, has an affect.
7. In addition to depression-like symptoms, you may crave sugary and starchy foods. For a complete list of the symptoms, go here.
8. Treatment in mild cases involves getting more light.
Exercise helps too. Make arrangements to let more light into your home and office. Get outside more. An hour's walk in winter sunlight can be as effective as 2 ½ hours under bright artificial light.
9. In more severe cases, phototherapy has been helpful.
This involves sitting in front of a light box which emits very bright light through a filter.
10. If you feel you have SAD, please discuss your symptoms with your personal physician.
About the Author
Susan Dunn, The EQ Coach, GLOBAL EQ. Emotional intelligence coaching to enhance all areas of your life - career, relationships, midlife transition, resilience, self-esteem, parenting. EQ Alive! - excellent, accelerated, affordable EQ coach certification. Susan is the author of numerous ebooks, is widely published on the Internet, and a regular speaker for cruise lines. For marketing services go here.