Seasonal Affective Disorder fast approaching with onset of winter

 

by Olivia Faith Pearce

 

Although you may just feel sad this winter season due to weather and shorter days, it may be something more serious.

Seasonal Affective Disorder is an emotional condition that affects approximately 15 per cent of Canadians from a mild to moderate degree. The disorder makes people feel depressed during the winter months and is often overlooked by those affected by it.

Windsor resident Diana Padavon, 47, is a long-time sufferer of the illness. She recalls when she first knew something was wrong.

“I was about 20 years old and it was terrible because I couldn’t get out of bed,” Padavon said. “I couldn’t play with my children or go to work. My body just shut down.”

The symptoms of SAD may be identified as simply being tired, but the risks to mental health can sometimes be serious if left untreated.

“The symptoms are more than feelings of sleepiness,” said psychiatrist Dr. Avelino M. Mape. “There are other physical signs like lack of appetite, overeating and weight changes or emotional symptoms like low-stress tolerance and even thoughts of suicide.”

If feelings of sadness seem unusually intense during the coming cold season, treatment remedies are available.

“Psychotherapy, medications like anti-depressants and even electro-shock therapy are all ways to stop the feeling of dysphoria,” said Mape. “Although these may be expensive to some.”

Other low-cost options to  combat the winter blues are available with positive success rates. A non-invasive, popular choice is light therapy. Shorter days and more darkness during the season have been clinically linked to the disorder. The unique lamps emit white light and can give users a feeling of higher energy and restored enjoyment of activities.

Carol Madia, a light therapy consultant at Motion Specialties that specializes in health and wellness aid, has recognized the feedback of clients who use the white light lamps.

“We get many requests on these, especially during the winter time,” Madia said. “They are a great alternative and people have told me how much better they feel after using them.”

According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, the 48 million North Americans diagnosed with SAD now have many treatments available during these fridgid seasons of fall and winter.