The Lowe Down

SAD State Of Affairs - Gerard Lowe

For this article I have decided to share something very personal with the hope that it will help someone who may be having similar experiences. It is not all that common for columnist to spill their innermost feeling or personal thoughts but in this instance I feel that it can be beneficial to many of our readers.

The issue I wish to disclose is that for quite a large portion of my life I have been afflicted with an ailment called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). The acronym of SAD is quite appropriate for this ailment because it describes exactly how it will affect a person’s health. You may have heard of it being described as the “winter blues” but from my experience it is far worse than a case of feeling a little down or sleeping more than usual.

The Mood Disorder Society of Canada describes SAD as a type of clinical depression that occurs at a particular time of year and follows a seasonal pattern. Winter is the season that SAD is most prevalent particularly in northern latitudes. Some theorists suggest that SAD is a result of low serotonin levels in the body during the winter months as a result of the lack of sunlight, which stimulates its production.  Serotonin is believed to play an important role in the biochemistry of depression.

The symptoms of SAD include:
Low mood, reduced interest in normally pleasurable activities, decreased concentration;
Oversleeping (often an increase of 4 hours or more each day);
Low energy and fatigue;
Intense craving for carbohydrates;
Weight gain and carbohydrate/sweets craving;
Withdrawal from social contacts;
Depression.
Since about the age of twenty I found winters to be very difficult to bear, particularly during the months of December, January and February.  Early on I experienced being a little more tired than usual and wanting to sleep all of the time. I also had the tendency to be reluctant to get out and exercise or engage in many of my normal activities.

After the age of 35 these symptoms began to become more severe to the point where at the age of 39, in the month of December I experienced a severe depression.  I was forced to take two weeks of sick leave from work and for most of that time laid in bed, unable to get the courage to do normal everyday things. I am not a person prone to crying, but during that difficult period I would cry for no reason and felt a great sense of isolation even though I had the support of my family. In order to get myself back on track I retreated to my parents house and after a couple of weeks was able to get my mind and body back on track.

When I originally became aware that SAD was a real affliction, I treated it with exercise and light therapy because during months of greater sunlight I was fine. I used a lamp that simulated the rays of the sun and that proved to be helpful. As I aged these things proved not to be as effective and I had to resort to other strategies. The most effective treatment proved to be anti-depressant medication. These brands of medication are believed to work by slowing the removal of neurotransmitters from the brain which occurs in months of decreased sunlight. These neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and norepinephrine, are needed for normal brain functions and are involved in the control of mood.

I was reluctant to take medication because of the societal stigma attached to using medication that treats many mental disorders. My doctor described it as no different than taking insulin for diabetes. I have a condition that affects my ability to function normally and this treatment is necessary. I take 20 milligrams of the antidepressant Wellbutrin each day and it makes me feel “normal”.  I have experienced very little in terms of side effects and my doctor advises that after an extended period of use I may be able to go without them altogether. This is the January, the heart of SAD season, and I feel great. I am able to work, exercise and deal with the winter as it were any other season.

If you think that SAD affects you, either in manageable terms or those that I have described, seek the advice of your doctor.  There are many ways that you can live a normal existence without the feelings of despair and sadness that SAD can inflict on you. Your doctor can prescribe a regimen of exercise, light therapy, or in my case, medication. There is no need to try to “ride it out” because there is help for you. Winter is a great season. Get out and enjoy it.

Here are a couple of helpful websites for information about Seasonal Affective Disorder.

http://www.mooddisorderscanada.ca/depression/sad.htm
http://www.heretohelp.bc.ca/publications/factsheets/seasonalaffective.shtml