As summer gradually comes to a close many people start to notice the ‘nights drawing in’. It will probably not be until we turn our clocks back on 30th/31st October, when British Summer Time officially ends, that we really notice the dark evenings and approaching winter. For some people, however, the shortening days are far more problematic than just a feeling of disappointment that summer is over. Up to 1 in 20 people are believed to suffer from a condition known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Younger people between the ages of 18 and 40 are more likely to suffer, and women are three times more likely to suffer than men. This condition is a type of clinical depression linked directly to lack of sunlight during winter months. Its onset can start as early as September and last through until the arrival of spring or even summer. SAD is thought to be linked to the hypothalamus, the part of the brain that rules our body’s main functions (mood, activity, sleep, temperature, appetite and libido). It is stimulated by the natural light that passes through the retinas in our eyes, and when less light is available these functions slow down. Typical symptoms include: - Sleep problems Disturbed sleep and early morning wakening
- Lethargy Extreme fatigue and lack of energy
- Overeating Carbohydrate craving and increased appetite
- Depression Feelings of misery, guilt and loss of self-esteem
- Social problems Irritability, and desire to avoid social contact
- Anxiety Tension and inability to tolerate stress
- Loss of libido Decreased interest in sex and physical contact
- Mood changes Extremes of mood
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Up to half a million people in the UK are thought to experience SAD, with a further one in five of the population experiencing the milder form – sub-syndrome SAD. Whereas some patients require treatment with anti-depressants, new research has found that many patients with SAD improve with exposure to bright, artificial light, called light therapy, or phototherapy. As little as half an hour a day of sitting under a lightbox results in a significant improvement in 60% - 80% of SAD patients. Some people even buy special ‘daylight’ bulbs for their house plants and themselves! Research has also confirmed that treatment with St John’s Wort is beneficial in treating SAD. If you feel that you suffer from SAD it is always important to chat with your GP so that they can confirm whether or not you do, and advise you on appropriate treatment. [‘Affective’ is a psychiatric term for mood]
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