Seasonal Affective Disorder !?!?!
Ever heard of Cabin Fever ?!?
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a form of depression that begins in autumn or early winter and generally lasts from 5 - 7 months until spring. Some people have called it "Cabin Fever". The early loss of sunlight in the winter appears to induce chemical changes in the brain that bring on depression. When the days grow longer in the spring, symptoms disappear, not reappearing until the next autumn or winter.
Many people have mood changes in the winter and are completely unaware this condition actually exists. Of the estimated 35 million Americans who get this condition, women seem to be the group it occurs in most often.
Common Symptoms of SAD:
- Lack of energy
- Increased desire to sleep
- Depression
- Increased appetite leading to weight gain
- Anxiety
- Difficulty concentrating
- Irritability
- Withdrawal
- Difficulty with relationships
- Loss of sexual desire
- Increase in premenstrual-related symptoms in women
The symptoms of SAD depression may vary, depending on the person. But how can it be helped? Modern medicine has one answer: Bright Light Therapy.
This seems to be one of the more effective treatments. Bright Light Therapy consists of exposure of up to 10,000 lux, cool-white florescent light for at least 30 minutes a day (Arch Gen Psychiatry 1998 Oct;55(10):875-82). This type of light therapy requires special lamps that provide up to 20 times the normal brightness of home or office lighting.
Nutritional supplements can provide some added benefit for SAD. When looking at the research on this topic, most looked at depression in general and not the specifics of SAD. Low levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin are found in a large number of individuals with depression and SAD. Supplements that act like serotonin precursors, sucn as Tryptophan and 5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) may provide some benefit to those with SAD. An article published in Alternative Medicine Review (1998 Aug;3(4):271-280) states that 5-HTP is the intermediate metabolite of the amino acid Tryptophan in the biosynthesis of serotonin. It can easily cross the blood-brain barrier and effectively increases central nervous system (CNS) synthesis of serotonin. In the CNS, serotonin levels have been implicated in the regulation of depression.
A study published in the Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology (1994 Oct;7 Suppl 1:S29-33) found that taking 900 mg of St. John's Wort per day may be an efficient therapy in patients with Seasonal Affective Disorder.
If you have been suffering from the winter blues, it would be a great idea to get a diagnosis prior to beginning any natural health program. Many people feel down or depressed and assume it is depression, when it could be the symptom of some other health issue such as heart disease, chronic pain and thyroid conditions. It is never a good idea to self-diagnose your health. Get the facts - then speak with your health care provider about the treatment options you have or may want to use. Going natural can work, but only when you use the right supplements for the right condition.
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Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a form of depression that begins in autumn or early winter. Low levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin are found in a large number of individuals with depression and Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD.
