SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder)

What Is SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) - UK-NHS: www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles/article.aspx?articleId=333

Seasonal affective disorderIntroductionSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression which has a seasonal pattern. The most common form of SAD is also called 'winter depression' because symptoms are worst in the winter months.

Symptoms tend to start from around September and are worse when the days are shortest (in December, January and February).

By springtime, most people with SAD will improve and symptoms usually disappear. Seasonal affective disorder can sometimes affect people in the summer rather than the winter, but this is rare and has different symptoms.

Around 1 in 50 people in the UK have SAD. The condition affects twice as many women than men.

You can develop SAD at any age, but it is most common in people aged 18-30. Like any type of depression, SAD can be a difficult condition to live with.

Symptoms can leave you feeling tired, lethargic, stressed and unhappy. However, there are a number of treatments and medications available that have been proven to be very effective in treating SAD.

When the sun is out, many people tend to feel happier and more energetic. When it is dark and gloomy, many of us feel more lethargic and less sociable. The amount of sunlight we get can affect our mood, appetite, energy levels and sex drive.

Up to 1 in 8 people in the UK experience these milder symptoms of winter 'blues' (sub-syndromal SAD). For people with SAD however, these feelings and symptoms are much more severe.

Studies around the world have shown that SAD becomes more common the further you are away from the equator. This suggests that SAD is linked to the change in the number of daylight hours through the year.

How does light therapy work?: www.nhsdirect.com/articles/article.aspx?...=333&PrintPage=1

You should begin using light therapy treatment in autumn, or as soon as your symptoms begin.

Sit a metre away from the box, facing the light but do not look directly at it.

You may need to spend anything from 30 minutes to 3 hours in front of the box, depending on the strength of the light that it emits. Carry on with every- day tasks, such as reading, eating or working and use the therapy at a time which is convenient for you.

However, it is best to avoid using it late in the evening, as it could make it difficult to get to sleep.

Most people will notice that symptoms improve after three to four days.

However in other people, it can take up to six weeks before they begin to notice a difference.

If light therapy has not worked after using it for 6 weeks, then it is probably not a suitable type of treatment for you.

How do I get light therapy?: www.nhsdirect.com/articles/article.aspx?...=333&PrintPage=1

Light boxes are not currently available on the NHS. If you contact a SAD support group or organisation, such as the Seasonal Affective Disorder Association (see selected links), they should be able to give you a list of suppliers.

Boxes normally start at £100.

There are a range of products available, for example; light visors which shine bright light into your eyes through a portable device fitted into a visor; dawn stimulators which are usually connected to an alarm clock and mimic sunrise, allowing you to wake up gradually.

It is very important that you do not use home-made light units, tanning lights or tanning beds as a form of light therapy.

They are not designed for use with SAD and usually emit a high level of UV rays, which can seriously damage your skin and eyes.

Before undertaking light therapy, it is best to visit your GP to discuss what type of therapy would be best for you.

Your GP will be able to give you advice on how you should be using this type of treatment, and will also be able to advise you on what to do should you suffer from any kind of side effects.

Although light therapy very rarely affects your vision, if you are using it on a regular basis, then it is important that you tell your optician.

You should also ensure that you have an eye test at least once a year.

If you have existing eye problems, it is best that you talk to your GP or optician before undertaking any form of light treatment to ensure it does not aggravate your condition in any way.

According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND, people suffering from depression feel much better after eating a banana.

This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a protein that the body converts into serotonin to make you relax and improve your mood.

Trypotophan can also help sufferers of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

Also, if you are stressed or nervous, bananas can help calm you down. Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Bananas also fight stress with potassium, as the mineral helps normalise the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water-balance.

Source: www.banana.com & www.Texperts.Com & www.mind.org.uk/News+policy+and+campaign...r+Mood+With+Food.htm