Don't be SAD

What’s it all about?
SAD was first recognised by American psychiatrist Dr Norman Rosenthal 20 years ago. Studies have shown that women are more frequently affected than men. Unlike other forms of depression it’s purely seasonal and includes any combination of the following symptoms:

• Feeling inexplicably sad
• Finding it difficult to wake up in the morning
• Overeating – especially foods high in carbohydrates
• Weight gain
• Irritability
• Having trouble concentrating
• Feeling tired and lacking energy
• Losing your enjoyment of things that are normally fun
• Not wanting to socialise

All of these can affect your performance and relationships at work for no apparent reason. Being able to pinpoint the cause of any problem is the first step to making things better. Many who suffer from SAD don’t even know it exists and just put up with feeling off colour.

What you can do
If you’ve had the above symptoms for two or more winters but feel completely different during the summer it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor about it and investigate the treatments available. These include light therapy. Researchers believe light has a biological effect on brain hormones and function. Dr Rosenthal also suggested some lifestyle changes that can help reduce the impact of miserable winters.

• Increase the amount of light in your home. Add lamps or skylights. Trim tree branches that block sunlight.
• Take a walk outdoors on sunny days.
• Treat yourself to a winter holiday in a sunny place.
• Exercise regularly.
• Try sleeping less and eating fewer carbohydrates.

Further information and advice on SAD and possible treatments are available from Cambridge-based Outside In, a company specialising in using light therapy for treating body-clock problems.