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Information on SAD:

What is SAD?

Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD is a "type of winter depression" which is thought to affect as many as twelve million people in the USA each winter between the months of September and March. A milder form is known as sub-syndromal sad or the winter blues and can affect the majority of the population at some time. This is sometimes known as the winter-blues. It is thought that as many as 35 million Americans suffer from the “winter blues”

 

What Are The Typical Symptoms?


Although these can vary they will inevitably include some or all of the following:

  • Depression with or without anxiety, lethargy, inability to cope. Feelings of misery
  • Sleep problems; waking up feeling un-refreshed, napping during the day, finding it hard to get going, and constant tiredness. Alternatively there can be another type of sleep disturbance where the sufferer can feel very tired early evening and suffer from early morning wakening.
  • Overeating - Craving for carbohydrates or sweet foods which can lead to weight gain which can add further to the depression.
  • Behavioural problems particularly in adolescents.
  • Social/problems. Wanting to avoid company. Irritability, loss of libido (sex-drive).
  • Physical symptoms; Stomach pains, joint pain, increased susceptibility to infections.
  • Lethargy - Feeling of fatigue and the inability to carry out normal everyday tasks
  • Loss of libido - Lack of interest in sex and close contact

 

What Causes SAD?

Very simply, SAD is caused by a lack of bright light particularly in the winter. When bright light enters the eye it has an effect of causing chemical changes which affect our circadian rhythm (or natural body clock). At dawn, bright light suppresses the production of melatonin, which makes us drowsy, and will also have an effect on the stimulation of serotonin. Low levels of serotonin are known to be a cause of depression.

 

What Treatments Are Available For SAD?

Probably the best treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder is taking a holiday in the sun. Unfortunately this is not always the most practical option for the majority of sufferers. In the past, the treatment involved the use of drugs. However in recent years, researchers in the USA and the UK have shown that SAD sufferers responded often quite dramatically to Bright Light Treatment. This has been proved effective in up to 85% of diagnosed cases. Unfortunately ordinary light bulbs and fittings are not strong enough. The average domestic lighting produces an intensity of light of 200-500 lux. The minimum dose necessary to treat SAD is 2500 lux. Light Treatment should be used daily in winter (and dull periods at other times of the year) and consists of sitting in front of a specially designed lightbox.
A further development in the treatment of S.A.D is now BLUEWAVE technology. Using a wavelength of light peaking more within the blue end of the spectrum has been found  to be five times more effective in suppressing symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder than conventional white light treatment.

 

Do I Need To Stare At The Lightbox?

The simple answer is no! Modern lightboxes are designed to that you can carry out normal activities such as eating, watching T.V, reading etc. You can even use a lightbox whilst exercising. There is a wide range of equipment on the market to suit every lifestyle. The normal treatment time will be from 20 minutes to two hours a day. It is therefore important that you seek advice from an established lightbox company to advise on the best lightbox for your lifestyle.

 

Can Lightboxes Be Used For Any Other Conditions?

Although lightboxes are made specifically for the treatment of Sad there is strong evidence that they have also been used successfully in Jet Lag, PMS, ME and MS.

 

Are Lightboxes Expensive?

The equipment varies in price and depends on the type of lightbox that is required. Because of people’s lifestyles these days, a lightbox which delivers the highest power in the shortest possible time are now recommended. If you do need any further help in choosing light therapy then please telephone us on (206) 801 1978 or email sadbox@aol.com or info@sad-lighthire.co.uk

 
 
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