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Seasonal Depression
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| cammie |
| quote: | Originally posted by Dmatrox
Please elaborate |
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Symptoms Include:
regularly occurring symptoms of depression (excessive eating and sleeping, weight gain) during the fall or winter months.
full remission from depression occur in the spring and summer months.
symptoms have occurred in the past two years, with no nonseasonal depression episodes. seasonal episodes substantially outnumber nonseasonal depression episodes. a craving for sugary and/or starchy foods.
Possible Cause of this Disorder
Melatonin, a sleep-related hormone secreted by the pineal gland in the brain, has been linked to SAD. This hormone, which may cause symptoms of depression, is produced at increased levels in the dark. Therefore, when the days are shorter and darker the production of this hormone increases.
Treatments
Phototherapy or bright light therapy has been shown to suppress the brain’s secretion of melatonin. Although, there have been no research findings to definitely link this therapy with an antidepressant effect, many people respond to this treatment. The device most often used today is a bank of white fluorescent lights on a metal reflector and shield with a plastic screen. For mild symptoms, spending time outdoors during the day or arranging homes and workplaces to receive more sunlight may be helpful. One study found that an hour’s walk in winter sunlight was as effective as two and a half hours under bright artificial light.
If phototherapy doesn’t work, an antidepressant drug may prove effective in reducing or eliminating SAD symptoms, but there may be unwanted side effects to consider. Discuss your symptoms thoroughly with your family doctor and/or mental health professional.
I'm glad I don't suffer from this, but I know a few of my friends do and it is really hard on them. |
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| Puuhis |
| Don't have one. :p |
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| mezzir |
yeah i've never actually been diagnosed and probably don't really have it, but i definately get depressed a lot more often in the winter months
and also, starting sometime around october (already started this year) i always get like a cold type thing, and it doesn't completely go away till like april
i never get really sick but i constantly have a stuffy nose or sneeze a lot or headaches
really sucks, anyone else have anything similar? |
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| DJ Chrono |
| quote: | Originally posted by cammie
Phototherapy or bright light therapy has been shown to suppress the brain’s secretion of melatonin. Although, there have been no research findings to definitely link this therapy with an antidepressant effect, many people respond to this treatment. The device most often used today is a bank of white fluorescent lights on a metal reflector and shield with a plastic screen. For mild symptoms, spending time outdoors during the day or arranging homes and workplaces to receive more sunlight may be helpful. One study found that an hour’s walk in winter sunlight was as effective as two and a half hours under bright artificial light.
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I know someone who uses this light treatment every morning in the fall-winter months. seems to work. |
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| elena |
| i never believed in this seasonal thing but ever since i got here i see how it's possible. winter is such an awful season!! |
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| drizzt81 |
| [random post mode on]seasonal depression is much better than SERIAL depression [/random post mode off] |
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| blazed it |
the secret to beating SAD is to go snowboarding! and making snow forts and braining your friends with snowballs.
unless you don't live near snow at all... then i would suggest you to do what dj nuclear suggests. |
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| Dmatrox |
it must suck to get depression only certain seasons of the year.
I kinda like all the seasons and hate them for their own characteristics. |
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