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Seasonal Affective Disorder - SAD

What is Seasonal Affective Disorder?

Over half a million people suffer every winter between September and April with a type of winter depression called Seasonal Affective Disorder or more commonly known as SAD

It is due to the shortening of daylight hours and lack of sunlight in the winter time and is caused by a biochemical imbalance in the hypothalamus.

Symptoms:

The symtons can include:

• Sleep problems - difficulty in staying awake
• Lethargy - Feeling tired and unable to carry out normal routine
• Depression - Feelings of misery and loss of self-esteem
• Mood Changes - Mood swings

Treatment:

Light therapy has proven to be most effective in up to 85 per cent of diagnosed cases. Ordinary light bulbs however, are not strong enough emitting only 200 - 500 lux where the minimum dose is 2500 lux.

Light treatment should be used daily in Winter when the first symptoms begin to appear. You should sit about 2 to 3 feet away from the specially designed light boxes that can be purchased allowing the light to shine directly through the eyes.

For further information contact:

SAD Association
http://www.sada.org.uk