Seasonal Affective Disorder

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), or Winter Blues, is a syndrome that occurs around the end of September or beginning of October when the seasonal characteristics of fall start to form. Clocks are set back one hour limiting the presence of day light, temperatures start to decline, and the vibrancy that spring and summer offers vanishes without a trace.

What causes SAD?

  • Lack of bright light
  • Decrease in temperature
  • Shortened length of days
  • Dark mornings
  • Dying or absence of flowers and other types of greenery
  • Lonely holidays can cause or magnify the SAD effect

People affected by SAD have distinctive changes in mood and character. Reactions may include an increase in sleeping and eating habits, daytime fatigue, social withdrawal, and suicidal thoughts.

SAD has been known to contribute to and magnify pre-existing disorders such as bi-polar disorder, compulsive over-eating, and hypersomnia.

Although SAD mainly occurs in the fall and winter seasons, there have been cases of it occurring in the spring and summer. Causes of this can be placed on the increase in temperature and humidity, which can leave a person unable to sleep (insomnia), unwilling to eat, and easily agitated.

Suggested treatments:

There are lists of treatment that subjects can use. Those suffering from mild cases just need exposure to the sun by taking long walks outside or pulling the blinds so that sunlight can come in. For more moderate cases, seeking counseling and taking anti-depressant medication is strongly suggested. The treatment for subjects with severe cases of SAD is Electroconvulsive therapy (using electric shock to cause a slight seizure releasing chemicals in the brain) and light therapy, which involves being exposed to a fluorescent light box for a couple hours a day.

Devon Health Services Inc., the Northeast’s most extensive Preferred Provider Organization and National Healthcare Cost Management Company, acknowledges SAD as an emotional disorder that affects the human psyche. Our PPO network provides our clients and members with list of physicians that can educate and assist patients with this disorder.

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