Spiral Eye Newsletter

January 2008

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is a type of depression that affects a person during the same season each year. Anyone can get SAD, but it is more common in:

People who live in areas where winter days are very short.
Women.
People between the ages of 15 and 55. The risk of getting SAD for the first time goes down as you age.
People who have a close relative with SAD.

What causes SAD?

Experts are not sure what causes SAD, but they think it may be caused by a lack of sunlight. Lack of light may upset your sleep-wake cycle, or circadian rhythms. Or it may cause problems with a brain chemical called serotonin that affects mood.

What are the symptoms of SAD?

If you have SAD, you may:

Feel sad, grumpy, moody, or anxious.
Lose interest in your usual activities.
Eat more and crave carbohydrate, such as bread and pasta.
Gain weight.
Sleep more and feel drowsy during the daytime.

Symptoms come and go at about the same time each year. For most people with SAD, symptoms start in September or October and end in April or May.

How is SAD treated?

Doctors often prescribe light therapy to treat SAD. There are two types of light therapy:

Bright light treatment. For this treatment, you sit in front of a "light box" for half an hour or longer, usually in the morning.
Dawn simulation. For this treatment, a dim light goes on in the morning while you sleep, and it gets brighter over time, like a sunrise.
Light therapy works well for most people with SAD, and it is easy to use. You may start to feel better within a week or so after you start light therapy.
Antidepressants. These medicines can improve the balance of brain chemicals that affect mood.
Counseling. Some types of counseling, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, can help you learn more about SAD and how to manage your symptoms.

You may feel better if you get some exercise most days of the week. Being active during the daytime, especially first thing in the morning, may help you have more energy and feel less depressed. Gentle exercise such as walking, riding a stationary bike, or swimming is a good way to get started.

How can I help someone who has SAD?

Spend time with your loved one even though he or she may be withdrawn or quiet.
Offer to help with daily tasks that temporarily may be too difficult to do alone.
Take a walk or do some other type of exercise activity together. Getting out first thing in the morning for a walk may be helpful.
Help the person to stick with the prescribed treatment plan.

Kaiser-Permanente website: www.kp.org

Curvy women are more intelligent than their super-skinny counterparts, and so are their offspring. According to a study reported by the BBC, the bigger the difference between a woman's hips and waist, the smarter. This apparently has something to do with Omega 3, a fatty acid that tends to hang out on women's hips and also benefits mental function. - NPR

Altruism Comes Naturally to Primates
In a controlled study, 75% of apes and 18-month-old human toddlers performed altruistic acts for others unrelated and unfamiliar to them. - Discover magazine

On average, an American woman owns 111 purses in her lifetime!

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