As the calendar moves on, and Christmas approaches once again, the days in Australia grow hotter and longer. Conversely of course, in the northern hemisphere the opposite is true. The days shorten, and in many countries of the north daylight becomes a fleeting phenomenon. This massive change in the amount of daylight, either more or less of it, affects human beings quite intensely. Short days and small amounts of daylight can induce depression; during the long summer days in such places as here in tropical Queensland, we have what many know quaintly as 'Mango Season'. Here in the tropics and sub tropics, people can be affected in the opposite way to depression, that is, mania. The short day/winter form of SAD symptoms always start in the the autumn or early winter. The illness generally lasts for between five to seven months until spring, when the days grow significantly longer, and the symptoms disappear, leaving the sufferer perfectly healthy until the following autumn. Many of these people will also feel an increase in energy at the onset of spring.
Dr. Shila Mathew, a board certified psychiatrist at Kaiser Permanente Health system suggested that there are four classic symptoms shown by her patients who had been diagnosed as having SAD. These are:
- Increased desire to sleep
- Extreme lethargy
- Depression
- Increased appetite which often leads to weight gain
According to Dr. Mathew, winter depressions can be very very severe in some patients. It affects the way you function and, in some cases, interfere with your personal relationships. Mood certainly changes. Some people become sadder, to the point of experiencing real grief at times. Many of them become very irritable, some become very anxious. Sometimes the irritability can lead to feelings of violence. Many feel drowsy throughout the day. They cannot get "enough of sleep". Some increases their sleep by as much as two hours or more per day. They may fall asleep early in the evening or have a tough time getting out of their bed in the morning, showing all signs of sleep deprivation.
Many experience a severe lack of energy which may manifest as inability to concentrate at work and a lack of vitality. To compensate for this lack of energy, many will go on an eating binge. Many crave foods which are high in carbohydrates. As a result of this overeating, many will put on weight during the winter months anywhere from 9 pounds to 30 pounds. Many find that they have no control on this excessive eating. (At spring and summer months, their eating habits will return to normal and most of them will lose the extra weight they have gained in winter only to gain them back in the next winter.)
Perhaps, the most important symptom of SAD is that all SAD sufferers feel depressed. They feel guilty for the lack of energy and the overeating. They sense a loss of self esteem, hopelessness and despair. Many find it hard to work. The number of "sick days" taken by the SAD sufferers in winter goes up dramatically. Many SAD sufferers will withdraw from the world and avoid social contacts.
The following symptoms are shown by some SAD sufferers; but not all.
- Anxiety: Tension, inability to tolerate stress, phobias.
- Social problems: Irritability, loss of pleasure in being with others and a desire to avoid contact, which could even turn to unwillingness to leave the home or bed.
- Loss of libido: Decreased interest in sex.
- Sleep problems: Tendency to sleep for longer periods. The sleep is restless and less satisfying. They wake up during the night.
- Mood swings: In the spring when SAD lifts, some sufferers experience a dramatic swing in mood and a short period of hypomania, a sudden surge of energy and enthusiasm which brings problems of its own.
- Menstrual difficulties: During the winter premenstrual tension may be worse than in other seasons, bringing irritability, sleep problems, appetite changes and low energy levels.
- Hopelessness: Feelings of desperation and hopelessness, which sometimes lead to over-dependence on relationships, work, home.
- Excessive eating and drinking: Carbohydrate foods, alcohol, coffee.
- Increased sensitivity to pain: Headaches, muscle and joint pain.
- Other physical ailments: Constipation, diarrhea, palpitations.
SAD shows no discrimination. It affects everyone without any regard to class, race or occupation. It gets worse in countries which are far from the equator where there is a substantial difference in the length of day from summer to winter.
SAD affects both sexes. But it was found to affect women more than men. Typically, the disorder starts manifesting when the patient is 20-40 years of age. It, however, had been found in some children and some older adults.
SAD may be hereditary. Many SAD sufferers come from a family where a parent or a close relative suffer from SAD.
It is estimated that ten percent of the population in the USA suffer from SAD. In U.K., Australia and Canada, doctors estimate that five percent of the population suffer from SAD. The variation between the countries may be due to the difference in awareness level of the population of the readiness of the population to seek treatment for the disorder.
Children may be affected too it seems, as many of the known SAD sufferers suggested that they were suffering from these symptoms since their childhood. Six percent of children surveyed in a Minnesota school claimed to experience extreme mood variations during the winter. One percent reported feeling depressed in winter. In a study conducted with 2267 middle and high school students in a suburb or Washington, D.C.. 3.3 percent of the responding students showed symptoms of SAD. The rate of SAD was found to be higher in post pubertal girls. The study concluded that between 1.7 percent and 5.5 percent of children between the ages 9-19 years may have SAD. They also have speculated that there is a relationship between SAD and puberty.
SAD Children (no pun intended) often suffer from fatigue and irritability, but not necessarily depression. They are generally aware that something is wrong, very often, they will blame their problem on external factors such as someone is "picking on them" Usually, these symptoms are thought to be the result of the onset of puberty or of adolescence. Keep an eye on your children to see whether they experience a seasonal decline in academic achievement, activity or mood.
Almost all children with SAD suffer the following symptoms during the autumn and/or winter months:
- Sadness
- Anxiety
- Irritability
Some will show symptoms such as:
- Fatigue
- Sleep problems, disturbed sleep, tendency to fall asleep during the day
- Increase in appetite
- Carbohydrate or junk food cravings
- Headaches
Keep an eye for the following tell-tale signs of the performance at school:
- Decline in academic achievements
- Loss of desire to take part in activities, especially sports
- Memory impairment
- Poor organizational skills
- Difficulty in writing
Children suffering from SAD may also show behavioral difficulties such as:
- Withdrawal from family and friends
- Crying spells
- Temper tantrums
- Tendency to watch a lot of television without retaining what is seen
- In springtime become hypomanic with feelings of elation, talkativeness, sleepless nights and hyperactivity.
Once again, this phenomenon highlights that mind - body link that we are more aware of now than we were some years ago. Our body is affected by the way we think, and our mind is affected by the way we feel.
It is critical then, to not only be aware that we are beings who need to live healthy lives physically, but also mentally. We really do need to care for our minds. Hypnotherapy is one of the finest ways of doing that; look upon it as a 'mind massage'.
Many people see me professionally for pure and simple relaxation. It helps them to be healthier, its as simple as that. As the old Latin phrase goes: 'Mens Sana in Corpore Sano'. A 'healthy mind in a healthy body' (if I can remember my Latin correctly!)
