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4 November 2010 – San Francisco, CA:  The long days of summer are over. The kids are back in school. It’s getting dark earlier and colder earlier. Feeling depressed? If so – you’re not alone.  According to Alameda County’s Family Education and Resource Center (www.askferc.org) – you could be more than just a little depressed, you could be downright 'SAD' -- with winter-onset Seasonal Affective Disorder.

 

“Fall can be a real downer for some,” says FERC Program Director Karina Foote, who explains that SAD is a serious clinical condition. “What many people intuitively feel, is in fact scientifically proven: reduced daylight can lead to winter-onset sadness.”

 

According to Foote, it is common for many people to find they want to eat and sleep slightly more during the fall and winter months. Many people simply dislike the darker mornings and shorter days which come with summer’s end. However, for some, symptoms are severe enough to disrupt their lives and cause considerable distress.  People that have any of the following symptoms, that return annually, might be suffering from SAD.

 

Symptoms of “SAD”

· depressed mood anxiety

· irritability, hopelessness

· loss of energy, social withdrawal

· oversleeping (feeling like you just want to hibernate)

· a loss of interest in activities you normally enjoy

· appetite changes, especially a craving for foods high in carbohydrates such as pastas, cereal, rice, and bread

· weight gain

· difficulty concentrating and processing information.

 

Seasonal affective disorder is defined as a mood disorder that occurs in individuals during specific seasons of the year. While in most cases, it increases during the winter months, it can occur in the summer months for some. A diagnosis of seasonal affective disorder was first proposed in the United States by Norman E Rosenthal, MD in 1984. Rosenthal wondered why he became sluggish during the winter after moving from sunny South Africa to New York. After conducting a few experiments where he increased his exposure to artificial light, he found that it had made a difference to his mood.

 

“Research studies have that found phototherapy is effective in treating many people that suffer from SAD,” said Foote, explaining that phototherapy is a treatment involving regular exposure to intense light. “This extra exposure to light while awake seems to correct symptoms of seasonal affective disorder for many people.”

No matter what your loved one's mental health challenge is, the Family Education and Resource Center (FERC) will be there for you. FERC assists family members caring for a child, adolescent, adult or older adult who has a serious emotional disturbance or mental health challenge. A program of the Mental Health Association of Alameda County, we provide information about the illnesses and available treatments and assistance in getting help from the service system. As family members / caregivers ourselves, says Foote, we know how important it is to feel that you are not alone. Talk to someone who knows what you are going through.  All services are FREE. Call FERC at 1-888-896-FERC (3372) or visit us at www.askferc.org