Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Seasonal Affective Disorder

With every winter comes shortened days, less light and a likelihood to have winter depression. Various people are affected by Seasonal Affective Disorder, known appropriately enough as SAD, and symptoms include a short fuse, listlessness and a general feeling of malaise when the nights get very long. In this state, a large number of people tend to have some constant low-grade illness and some emotional and physical discomfort. If you are strongly affected by SAD, or you suspect you might be, there are some things that you should know!

SAD can be a large problem that you face every year, but this doesn't have to be the case. Back in 1984, a psychiatrist co-published a paper dealing with the effects of intense light therapy on people who are afflicted with SAD. Subsequent exploration has confirmed the fact that the the use of brilliant lights on the ones who suffer from SAD evidence improvement in their emotional and physical states. This treatment has even has an effect on people who are experiencing anxiety and depression.

One of the theories behind the usefulness of light therapy is that people who suffer from severe SAD and seasonally related depression are more light sensitive than most. The majority of people might be able to get sufficient light through indoor lighting, but indoor lighting might actually be insufficient to effect people who have problems with SAD. Similarly, a lack of light can mean that the brain processes that stimulate seratonin and dopamine secretion are slowed, something which can definitely affect mood.

Another theory behind light functioning is that it can help with a patient's circadian rhythms. An application of bright light therapy can help a person's hormonal system figure out when they should be awake. Are you familiar with how hung over you feel when you weren't allowed enough sleep? Some researchers believe that SAD is partially related to your body feeling like it does not get sufficient sleep and therefore, you feel uncomfortable. The use of sufficient light can help your body to wake up and become more alert in general.

If you or someone you know suffers from Seasonal Affective Disorder, you need to realize that there are ways to deal with it. Take a look at your condition and think about whether light therapy does give you the help you need to survive the winter and even enjoy it!

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Light itself is a great corrective. A thousand wrongs and abuses that are grown in darkness disappear, like owls and bats, before the light of day. James A. Garfield

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