Post-holiday blahs might be Seasonal Affective Disorder
Turn that Frown Upside Down
Post-holiday blahs might be Seasonal Affective Disorder
By Julia Fernandez , MD
The gifts are unwrapped , the holiday gatherings concluded , and several more cold weeks of winter remain . If hibernation has set in , it may be hard for you to find the motivation to get off the sofa and out from under that warm , wooly blanket . But , if your post-holiday blues won ’ t budge , you could have seasonal affective disorder ( SAD ), a condition that occurs during the winter months . SAD is a disorder that affects between 4 and 6 percent of people in the United States – around 10 million Americans – and another 10 to 20 percent of the population may experience a milder form of winter blues . Many more Americans with SAD remain undiagnosed and untreated , according to health experts . SAD can affect anyone , but it is more common among women , people with a family history of SAD , and people who live in areas where winter days are short and there are significant changes in the amount of daylight between the seasons . SAD is most commonly diagnosed in people ages 15 to 55 . Symptoms of SAD include :
• Feeling sad , grumpy , moody , or anxious
• Loss of interest in activities usually enjoyed
• An increase in appetite , particularly a craving for starchy carbohydrates , such as bread and pasta
• Weight gain
• An increased need for sleep and feeling drowsy during the daytime
• Inability to concentrate
• Increased sensitivity to social rejection , and avoidance of social situations
Symptoms typically begin in September or October and end in April or May . Sometimes it ’ s difficult to distinguish whether you have a case of the winter doldrums , SAD or depression , because many of the symptoms are similar . The key difference is the time of year , length of time that you feel down , and the symptoms that accompany your “ funk .” The differences with SAD are that , unlike depression , symptoms come and go with the changing of the seasons . If your depressed mood lifts with the onset of spring and longer , light-filled days , you may have SAD , rather than depression . A major depressive disorder has the same emotional and physical symptoms as SAD , but the majority of these symptoms will persist for at least two weeks or more – often several months – and are not affected by the time of year or changing of seasons . Conversely , depression is generally caused by a combination of genetic , biological , environmental , and psychological factors .
It can also be triggered by trauma , loss of a loved one , a difficult relationship , or any stressful situation – but sometimes there is no apparent cause . Health experts are unsure what causes SAD , but it is thought that the lack of sunlight during the shorter winter days disrupt the body ’ s sleep cycle , circadian rhythms – physical , mental and behavioral changes in the body that follow a 24-hour cycle , prompted by changes in light and darkness in the environment – and the brain ’ s production of a “ feel-good ” chemical known as serotonin that affects mood , and melatonin , which affects sleep patterns . Treatment for SAD includes light therapy , exercise , medication , or counseling . Light therapy is simple , and involves sitting in front of a light box – no bigger than a hardback book – or wearing a light visor , for about half an hour or longer , usually in the morning . Other light therapy uses dawn simulation , with a dim light that turns on in the morning , activated by a timer , when you awaken and brightens over time , to mimic the sunrise . It ’ s believed that light therapy helps to re-set the brain ’ s internal clock , restore the body ’ s sleep / wake cycle and regulate other daily rhythms – which in turn , relieve the depression-like symptoms of SAD . If you can ’ t kick those feelings of post-holiday blahs , talk to your doctor . Help is available . If you ’ ve noticed negative changes in a loved one over the age of 55 , the Senior Behavioral Health Services Program at Weatherford Regional Medical Center may be able to help . Our medical director Dr . Julia Fernandez and experienced nursing team provide individualized care in a warm , supportive atmosphere . Our services include 24-hour supervision , diagnostic evaluation , management of medications , and medical needs . For information or to make a referral , please call 682-582-2900 .
About the Author : Julia Fernandez , a member of the medical staff , earned her medical degree from Texas Tech . She completed her internship and residency in Psychiatry at the University of South Florida in Tampa . Dr . Fernandez is the medical director for Weatherford Regional Medical Center ’ s Senior Behavioral Health Unit . Remember that this information is not intended to replace the advice of your doctor , but rather to increase awareness and help equip patients with information and facilitate conversations with your physician that will benefit your health . Sources : National Institutes of Mental Health , www . nimh . nih . gov ; American Academy of Family Physicians , www . familydoctor . org , WebMD , www . webmd . com
To find a physician close to you , visit Weatherford Regional Medical Center ’ s online Physician Directory at WeatherfordRegional . com / Physicians
DECEMBER 2016 PARKER COUNTY TODAY
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