Freezing Temperatures & Depression

Depression is a major disorder that can affect many aspects of your everyday life--the physical, emotional, mental and even sexual aspects. It is more than the occasional sadness some might feel. It is an ongoing serious problem that has many forms but fortunately has many treatments as well. One form of depression cycles with the seasons and strikes most of its victims in fall and winter, especially in colder climates with freezing temperatures. Some call it the "winter blues," but it is a real problem with a clinical diagnosis: seasonal affective disorder.

Definition

• Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is a type of depression that strikes at the same time each year, most commonly during fall or winter, and lasts a limited time, typically tapering off in the spring. Its symptoms are the same as those of major depression. According to a Harvard Medical School publication, this winter depression accounts for 10 percent of all depression cases.

Symptoms

• People with depression feel an overwhelming sense of sadness and often don't know why. They lose interest in people and activities that used to bring them joy. They may feel anxious, easily frustrated or even hopeless. Some people experience physical symptoms, such as body aches and pains or exhaustion. A depressed individual may cope by overeating, sleeping excessively, using alcohol or withdrawing and avoiding friends, activities, work or family outings.

Causes

• According to the American Psychiatric Association, SAD is a chemical imbalance created not by temperatures so much as the amount of daylight an individual encounters. As seasons change, people also experience a shift in their biological rhythms, and this is pronounced in geographical areas with shorter days during the winter months. Research has shown that bright light elevates a person's mood. Conversely, darkness stimulates melatonin, a sleep-supporting hormone, and reduces serotonin levels needed for mood stability. These chemical shifts are believed to account for symptoms of SAD as well.

Diagnosis

• If a person notices a pattern in his moods that causes concern, he should go to his family doctor. He can also visit any mental health professional, although only medical doctors can prescribe medication. As with any health appointment, he should write down questions he has and take a list of his current medications. The doctor will likely ask a set of standard questions and want to know about any symptoms the person is having, recent life changes or major stressors he is experiencing.

Treatment

• SAD has several treatment options. Traditional approaches, including antidepressant medications and talk therapy, have been effective. A common alternate treatment is called light therapy. With this method, the individual uses a light therapy box, a device that emits bright artificial light similar to the sun's rays. The light affects biological rhythms and alters brain chemistry, including the inhibition of melatonin. The box might lift the moods of depressed individuals without the use of medications and is a popular method for fighting seasonal affective disorder.