2008 Woodie Awards
Students may suffer from winter's SAD
Tiffany Gibson
Issue date: 11/29/07 Section: News
During winter months, many Tennesseans experience mood swings or depression symptoms as a result of cold temperatures and bleak winter days. Most people ignore these factors, which have the potential to trigger symptoms of a serious disorder known as Seasonal Affective Disorder, or winter depression.
People suffering from SAD usually display symptoms similar to depression, such as an inability to continue everyday routines due to fatigue, social withdrawal, appetite changes, anxiety and oversleeping.
SAD is a disorder that affects individuals during the winter months due to lack of sunlight. It has been known to affect 1 out of 100 in the United Kingdom and nine percent of inhabitants residing in Alaska.
SAD has also been reported to have risen in the United States, influencing an estimated 10 to 20 percent of the population. This is a powerful mood disorder that can ultimately cause severe depression and may require hospitalization if not treated correctly.
Treatments for this disorder include several options such as light therapies, medication, and ionized-air reception.
Light therapy, also known as phototherapy, is based on the exposure of lasers, fluorescent lamps or full-spectrum light and has been effective in treating SAD during 30 minute sessions.
Although light therapy is the most common treatment, roughly 19 percent of patients suffering from SAD are required to take medication for their depression or anxiety.
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors are usually prescribed for depression and SAD patients to help balance the serotonin levels in the brain by increasing them. These effective antidepressants are most commonly known as Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil and Wellbutrin.
Another effective treatment an individual suffering from mood swings and lethargy could seek would be counseling. SAD can be a serious and dangerous disorder that could eventually leave an individual contemplating suicide.
"Anything dealing with depression can make a person more likely to commit suicide," said Kevin Breault, Sociology professor at MTSU.
People suffering from SAD usually display symptoms similar to depression, such as an inability to continue everyday routines due to fatigue, social withdrawal, appetite changes, anxiety and oversleeping.
SAD is a disorder that affects individuals during the winter months due to lack of sunlight. It has been known to affect 1 out of 100 in the United Kingdom and nine percent of inhabitants residing in Alaska.
SAD has also been reported to have risen in the United States, influencing an estimated 10 to 20 percent of the population. This is a powerful mood disorder that can ultimately cause severe depression and may require hospitalization if not treated correctly.
Treatments for this disorder include several options such as light therapies, medication, and ionized-air reception.
Light therapy, also known as phototherapy, is based on the exposure of lasers, fluorescent lamps or full-spectrum light and has been effective in treating SAD during 30 minute sessions.
Although light therapy is the most common treatment, roughly 19 percent of patients suffering from SAD are required to take medication for their depression or anxiety.
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors are usually prescribed for depression and SAD patients to help balance the serotonin levels in the brain by increasing them. These effective antidepressants are most commonly known as Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil and Wellbutrin.
Another effective treatment an individual suffering from mood swings and lethargy could seek would be counseling. SAD can be a serious and dangerous disorder that could eventually leave an individual contemplating suicide.
"Anything dealing with depression can make a person more likely to commit suicide," said Kevin Breault, Sociology professor at MTSU.
Be the first to comment on this story