We are almost at the tail end of winter and yet perhaps this is the period wherein more people are susceptible to certain diseases and disorders. You have probably observed or even experienced seasonal affective disorder at least once in your life but you just didn’t know that there was a tag to it. Yes, there is such a thing as depression brought about by the changes in the seasons.
The rationale behind seasonal affective disorder is that the lack of sunlight brings about a case of winter blues. Seasonal affective disorder varies in degree. Some suffer from mild depression while others are unable to function properly in their daily lives. Though it may seem absurd to some, this disorder is not to be taken lightly.
So how do you deal with seasonal affective disorder? Well there have been some treatment options that have proven effective in treating the winter blues. One of the most effective is called bright light therapy. Patients undergo sessions with lights many many times brighter than the lights we normally have at home. Regular exposure to such lights during winter greatly decreases the blues. Other treatments are medication, ionized-air reception, and cognitive therapy. However, bright light therapy is the treatment of choice for the majority of sufferers.
As the winter nears its end and you observe a family member or a friend acting out of the ordinary, maybe you should take a closer look. Maybe his or his depression is not something that the normal person goes through. It may be that he or she is suffering from seasonal affective disorder.
Originally posted on January 20, 2007 @ 4:50 pm