Seasonal Depression

While we are still about one month from the first day of fall, (September 22) the sunsets are earlier, leaves are slowly changing color and the air smells of seasons changing. For many, it is a time that seasonal depression starts creeping in. The feelings of lower energy, fatigue, sadness, eating more, weight gain and loss of interest. The days are shorter and the weather can become a bit cooler and rainier causing us to be inside more often. Called Seasonal Affective Disorder or Seasonal Depression, is a mood disorder that happens every year usually in the fall and winter and ends in the spring. While we don’t know the exact cause; it is believed that certain hormones made deep in your brain trigger attitude-related changes at certain times of the year. One theory is that less sunlight during the fall and winter leads your brain to make less serotonin, a chemical linked to brain pathways that help control mood. Other studies suggest that altered levels of melatonin, a hormone important for maintaining the normal sleep-wake cycle can cause seasonal depression. Both serotonin and melatonin help maintain the body’s daily rhythm tied to the seasonal night-day cycle in people with seasonal depression; these changes disrupt normal daily rhythms. Treatment for this disorder includes light therapy, Vitamin D, antidepressants and therapy. Talk to a health care provider about the benefits of different treatment options and which treatment is the best for you. Light therapy is sitting in front of a very bright light box everyday for about 30 to 45 minutes, usually the first thing in the morning. The light box is about 20 times brighter than ordinary indoor light. People with increased light sensitivity or certain eye diseases should use this only under medical supervision. Vitamin D can be prescribed or over the counter, but again discussing with your PCP before using because of a possible interaction with other medications. Antidepressants can be used alone or with therapy, they work by changing how the brain produces or uses certain chemicals involved with mood or stress. It will take time to work effectively, up to 8 weeks, so make sure to take time to make sure it will work for you before stopping. As with all medications, check with your PCP before starting or stopping any medications and talk about side effects. It’s normal to have some days when you feel down. But if you feel down for days at a time and you can’t get motivated to do activities you normally enjoy, see your healthcare provider for help, more importantly if you feel any signs of hopelessness or suicidal thought. Don’t just accept it as the “winter blues” or the “fall doldrums”, know there is help available. The fall and winter are a time for holidays, hayrides, family and friends, getting help to enjoy these events is important along with making memories. Take good care of yourself, Dallas County friends. Information from: Mayo Clinic, WebMD, National Institute of Mental Health