Seasonal affective disorder actually impacts one in five of us and usually sets in sometime around October, becoming most severe around January and February. The severity of symptoms differs from person to person. Only 3 per cent of the us will suffer with the most severe form of SAD.
Sufferers notice a significant reduction in energy levels during winter months and often feel less inclined to socialise. They may also experience a change in appetite and sleep patterns, irritability or feelings of despair. Symptoms can disappear altogether during spring and summer months, and then return again during autumn. Confusingly, there is such a thing as reverse SAD, a version of the disorder in which sufferers notice a worsening of symptoms during summer months. This variation is relatively rare.
SAD is a form of depression. It is related to changes in season and exposure to sunlight. In the UK we experience fairly significant changes in the levels of daylight we are exposed to from winter to summer, making us particularly susceptible to seasonal affective disorder. The exact reasons why people suffer from SAD are still relatively unknown, although many people suggest that lack of sunlight exposure can impact our hormone levels, particularly melatonin and serotonin – the hormones that have a direct impact on our mood, appetite and sleep patterns.
As with any form of depression, there are several options for treatment. As well as talking therapies, some patients opt to ease symptoms using antidepressants or by making changes to lifestyle. There is also a new option available: transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).
So how do you choose a treatment? For less severe sufferers, lifestyle changes can make a big difference. Take a look at your day to see if there are any opportunities to increase the amount of time you spend outdoors during daylight hours – even when the weather is cloudy. Make an effort to spend as much time as possible outdoors, particularly in the middle of the day when the sun is at its strongest. Where possible, try not to give in to the temptation to shut yourself away indoors as this can actually reduce exposure to sunlight and cause symptoms to worsen.
Regular exercise (particularly outdoors) and a healthy diet can also help to ease symptoms and maintain overall wellbeing. Several specialist lightboxes for SAD are also available to buy online. They are designed to replicate the light from the sun. Sitting near a lightbox for 30-60 minutes a day can help to reduce symptoms of SAD. Sunrise alarm clocks can also be very helpful.
If you are experiencing severe changes of mood and wellbeing at any time of year, consult your doctor and talk to them about your treatment options. Doctors may prescribe antidepressant medications. If this is the case, ensure that you check with your doctor that your tablets do not increase drowsiness as this could increase your symptoms. Before taking any antidepressant you should carefully consider the potential side effects. Many antidepressants have fairly severe side effects including sexual dysfunction, nausea, blurred vision and increase or decrease in weight.
TMS offers an alternative to antidepressant medication in the treatment of SAD and other forms of depression and mental health issues. The treatment does not require the use of any medication or invasive surgery and patients can be treated as outpatients. TMS treatments have minimal side effects, the most common being slight headaches or discomfort of the scalp.
TMS is a simple treatment. It uses a coil to create pulses of magnetic energy that can stimulate or dampen down certain areas of the brain that are known to contribute to particular psychiatric conditions. The treatment has been approved by NICE as an effective and safe treatment for depression in the UK.
If you or someone you know is dreading the arrival of the winter months and the change in mood they bring, you may be suffering from SAD. There’s no need to suffer in silence. If SAD is impacting the quality of your daily life, consider making small lifestyle changes to ease symptoms, or for more severe cases, consider seeking out a treatment that helps you manage your symptoms and continue living your life.
Dr Leigh Neal is co-founder of Smart TMS, a leading clinic for the treatment of mental health
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