Each winter I seem to suffer the with same problems,
feeling lethargic and depressed, what could be wrong
with me?
Don’t brush off that yearly feeling as simply a case of the
“winter blues” that you have to tough time trying to deal with.
This could be a sign of Seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
SAD is a mood disorder that occurs when there are changes
to the chemicals in the brain and body, affecting people with
normal mental health. This happens mostly in the winter
months causing symptoms such as depression, low or no
energy, sleep problems, overeating, difficulty in concentrating
and in extreme cases having suicidal thoughts.
Take the signs and symptoms of seasonal affective disorder
seriously. As with other types of depression, SAD can get
worse and lead to problems if it’s not treated. Contact your
GP who can organise certain lab and psychological tests to
be performed to give a diagnosis and treatment plan.
One of the effective treatments for SAD is a non-invasive
light therapy also know as phototherapy. Light therapy
mimics natural outdoor light and when used appears to
cause a change in brain chemicals linked to mood.
This is performed by the person being exposed to a special
lightbox for a certain amount of time daily. Results are
generally seen within a few days to weeks, relieving the
SAD symptoms in most cases.