SAD – A Legitimate Disorder or a Psychological Issue

It as been proved that human beings respond to external environments in the same way as animals. They adjust themselves to the external conditions by either making some changes in their routine life either to escape those conditions or by making efforts to cope with them.

Hibernation is a natural animal response to dim light and cold weather. As every thing seems gloomy and dark, animals do not get out much to hunt food, instead their metabolic rate slows down and they feel sleepier. In the same way... during the winter seasons human beings also feel depressed and melancholy due to lack of sunlight and adequate outdoor activities.

This depressing disorder has been studied in detail and has been diagnosed as Seasonal Affective Disorder [SAD].  It has been recognized as a legitimate disorder by the American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, as well as the National Institute of Mental Health.

SAD – A Legitimate Disorder

It has been found that a large number of people feel depressed and anxious during the winter time when there is dim light. This happens due to the increased secretion of melatonin from the pineal gland in the brain. In view of the secretion of this hormone, it is said that the condition experienced is a legitimate disorder.

It cannot be classified as a psychological issue, as SAD occurs due to valid reasons. Even though it does not affect the whole population, yet there is one person among 5 who suffers from this problem during the winter. People suffering from this disorder feel sleepy, lethargic and tend to eat more.

Being a legitimate disorder extensive research was carried on Seasonal Affective Disorder and various treatments have been formulated.

Ways to Treat This Disorder

The American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, as well as the National Institute of Mental Health recommend the following various way treat this disorder:

1. This disorder can be treated with various antidepressants that inhibit the secretion of melatonin and increase the secretion of serotonin, the happy feeling neurotransmitter in the brain.
2. Phototherapy or light therapy is an effective way to treat SAD. This is an alternative to make up for the absence of sunlight during winter by use of artificial bright light.
3. People suffering with SAD should also to light up their homes in winter to avoid getting depressed. It is also an effective means of getting around depression during the months of January and February.
4. One way of fighting SAD is walking for about an hour or so everyday. This must be done in sunlight so that a person may get more sunlight. Once a person succeeds in getting more sunlight everyday s/he tends to feel better and may not need any other treatment.

In most of the cases, SAD was successfully treated. There have also been cases when people were not aware of their condition and went on tolerating it. As it is a legitimate disorder, various methods are being tried out to find effective treatment for this depressive disorder.