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HAVE TROUBLE COPING WHEN THE CLOCKS “FALL
BACK?” YOU MAY HAVE SEASONAL AFFECTIVE
DISORDER AKA.. SAD
Posted By Stacy | November 7, 2016
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The clocks “fall back” November 6th, 2016 which means that
there will be less day light. Many people chalk up feeling blue in
winter as simply a fact of cold weather and lack of sunshine. But
4 to 6 percent of people may have a winter depression which is
clinically referred to as Seasonal Affective Disorder. Another
10 to 20 percent may have mild SAD. SAD is four times more
common in women than in men. Although some children and
teenagers get SAD, it usually doesn’t start in people younger
than age 20. Your chance of getting SAD goes down as you get
older. SAD is also more common the farther north you go. For
example, it’s seven times more common in Washington State
than in Florida. Dr. Sanam Hafeez is a neuro-Psychologist in
NYC (Manhattan and Forest Hills, Queens), and treats patients
in her practice who display and express mood changes once
October rolls around.
Dr. Hafeez explains that, “In most cases, seasonal affective disorder symptoms
appear during late fall or early winter and go away during the sunnier days of spring
and summer. However, some people with the opposite pattern have symptoms that
begin in spring or summer. In either case, symptoms may start out mild and become
more severe as the season progresses.”
The following are symptoms to look for to see if you are suffering from SAD
Depression
Hopelessness
Anxiety
Loss of energy
Heavy, “leaden” feeling in the arms or legs
Social withdrawal
Oversleeping
Loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed
Appetite changes, especially a craving for foods high in carbohydrates
Weight gain
Difficulty concentrating
How is SAD treated?
Many people with SAD will find that their symptoms respond to a very specific
treatment called bright light therapy. For people who are not severely depressed
and are unable—or unwilling—to use antidepressant medications, light therapy may
be the best initial treatment option says Dr. Hafeez.
Light therapy consists of regular, daily exposure to a “light box,” which artificially
simulates high-intensity sunlight. Practically, this means that a person will spend
approximately 30 minutes sitting in front of this device shortly after they awaken in
the morning. If patients do not improve, a second exposure of 20-30 minutes may
be added in the early afternoon. Treatment usually continues from the time of year
that a person’s symptoms begin, such as in fall, on a daily basis throughout the
winter months. Because light boxes are created to provide a specific type of light,
they are expensive and may not be covered by insurance. Unfortunately, having lots
of lamps in one’s house and spending extra time outside is not as effective as this
more expensive treatment.
Dr. Hafeez states that, “Side effects of light therapy are uncommon and usually
reversible when the intensity of light therapy is decreased. The most commonly
experienced side effects include irritability, eyestrain, headaches, nausea and
fatigue.”
Scientific studies have shown light therapy to be very effective when compared to
placebo and as effective as antidepressants in many cases of non-severe SAD.
Light therapy may also work faster than antidepressants for some people with
notable effects beginning with in a few days of starting treatment. Other people may
find that it takes a few weeks for light therapy to work, which can also be the case
for most people who take antidepressant medications. Although not explicitly
recommended, some people may elect for treatment with both light therapy and
antidepressant medications.
The combination of these treatments may be
synergistic and a more robust way to address the symptoms of SAD.
In her practice Dr. Hafeez has found that antidepressant medications have been
useful in treating people with SAD. Of the antidepressants, fluoxetine (Prozac) and
bupropion (Wellbutrin) have been studied in the treatment of SAD and shown to be
effective. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved these
medications for treatment of major depressive disorder. Dr. Hafeez cautions that,
“Any person considering treatment with an antidepressant medication should
discuss the benefits and risks of treatment with their doctors.”
Individuals with a predisposition to bipolar disorder should be more cautious in
approaching treatment for SAD and depression in general. Light therapy, like
antidepressant therapy has been associated with increased risk of experiencing a
manic episode. The specifics of this are beyond the scope of this review and again,
should be discussed with one’s doctors.
Finally, a healthy lifestyle, including regular exercise, a good diet and a strong social
network, is also likely to help you cope with SAD.
Sanam Hafeez Psy.D
New York State Licensed Neuropsychologist and School Psychologist
www.comprehendthemind.com
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