Category — SAD

SAD stands for Seasonal Affective Disorder. It is also known as the winter blues. It is often a serious condition that leads to depression and in some cases, suicide.

SAD is caused by lack of daylight and affects women more compared to men.To combat Seasonal Affective Disorder, SAD light boxes are used. A SAD Light Box is a powerful light source that gives out light which is much brighter than a normal bulb. The level of light is comparable to that of daylight. Most SAD patients report an improvement on using a SAD light box and many recover totally.

SAD light boxes are often considered the best and cheapest treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder.SAD light boxes are often quite expensive, but you can make one at home if you wish. This is how –You will need - several long fluorescent tubes, a box (which is light in weight, about two feet long and 6 inches deep), electrical wire, electrical fittings, carpentry equipment if box is of wood, and a protective screen (transparent) for the front face.

1. For the light source, you have to use the long fluorescent tubes. The fluorescent tubes use only about a fourth of the electricity compared to standard incandescent light bulbs, and they last much longer.

2. You must ensure that the total light produced by these tubes is a minimum of 10,000 lux (of light intensity). Less intense light may not be that effective in treating SAD.

3. You have to fit an adequate number of lights in the box in such a manner that they produce 10,000 lux light intensity on your face at a distance of about 2 feet. It will not be comfortable if you have to keep your eyes at a closer distance.

4. Ensure that the box is well balanced. You wouldn’t want it to fall when you are lying down and enjoying the light on your face.

5. Ensure that the SAD light box is well insulated and the wires do not expose users to any harm.With just these standard material, you can get your SAD light box ready and running in no time.

It’ll be as effective as a professionally made light box, as the only important thing is the intensity of the light. So get the stuff and make your own light box. Even making one of these yourself can be a cure for Seasonal Affective Disorder.

That Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD can be effectively treated with bright lights, like those that are produced by using SAD light therapy boxes and dawn simulators, is well documented and widely accepted.

The general treatment is to have a patient suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder expose his/ her face to around 10,000 lux of bright light once in a while for about half an hour, preferably at the same times each day. Recent studies in this field indicate that it is the intensity of the light that matters more, not the appearance.

But it is also true that these bright light treatment sources are big, fragile, expensive and also consume a lot of electricity.

New research shows that in addition to intensity, the timing of the light exposure is important. It has been found that there is something about the circadian rhythm that is related to seasonal depression. It was later discovered that different wavelengths of light have different effects on the circadian rhythm in humans. Scientists came to know that only blue light suppresses the production of melatonin in the body, the suppression of which tells you it is morning and time to get up and get going. Thus, blue LEDs that emit ultraviolet light are perfect for the purpose of treating SAD.

The usefulness of a LED light therapy device in the treatment of SAD was tested in a recent trial. Some participants with SAD were exposed to a LED treatment device (from The Litebook Company Ltd., Canada) which delivered 1,350 lux light (with spectral emission peaks at 464 nm and 564 nm) at a distance of 20 inches or to an inactivated negative ion generator at a distance of 20 inches, for 30 minutes a day upon awakening, before 8 am. This Litebook treatment device uses LEDs, which research has shown to be more effective in treating SAD if used properly. Other participants in the trial were taken through standard/ placebo treatment. At the end of the trial, the proportion of participants who favorably responded to this new treatment were significantly greater, showing superiority of the LED treatment device.

Thus, all this research indicates that the human circadian rhythm system is differentially sensitive to light of short wavelength. Light treatment devices that use efficient light-emitting diodes (LEDs) whose output is comparatively concentrated in short wavelengths may actually enable a more effective therapy for Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD is a type of seasonal depression which affects millions of people every winter between September and April. It is a mood disorder. SAD is brought on by inadequate exposure to sunlight. But even if you or someone you know is affected by Seasonal Affective Disorder, there is no reason to despair. The helpful tips given below will easily aid you in driving the blues away and living a healthier, sunnier life.

Exercise can help a lot in getting the blood circulating freely throughout the body. All types of exercises help, whether light or heavy. Exercises can make you feel better immediately.

It is advisable to get adequate exposure to light. Whatever you do, keep yourself surrounded with light at all times. There is no better way to keep away the SAD blues as SAD is caused by lack of light.

Talk to the people you are close to. Meet them, call them or chat with them on the Internet. Confide your feelings in them and they will offer you adequate support to pull you out from the depths of despair.

To share your feeling with like-minded people, you can even consider joining a support group. When you share your experiences with others who are going through the same phases, you are sure to strike a bond and get helpful tips on how to combat this debilitating condition. Call your doctor and ask him/ her to recommend one for you. Or else, you can check on the Internet or in the telephone directory to find a good support group.

Ask your doctor if you need medication. Sometimes, in severe cases, this may be recommended. But these medicines take time to take effect, so you should also try out the other tips to keep your spirits up. Do not take any medication without consulting your doctor.

You can use SAD light therapy boxes or devices like dawn simulators to give yourself exposure to high intensity light from time to time. These have been found to be very effective in treating SAD.Finally, do something you love and enjoy. When you are feeling down in the dumps, that might be hard to do. But you can simply close your eyes and think what you would be doing had it been the middle of summer. Then you can go ahead and do it, if it is practically possible of course. Get up and get going. Do some fun activities. Meet your friends. Jump around. Smile, even if you don’t feel like it. After a while, the grin on your face will be quite genuine!

Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD is caused by inadequate exposure to sunlight during the winter days. This reduction in light can be countered by using SAD light boxes.

SAD light boxes generally use a number of long fluorescent tubes as the light source. These provide high intensity light. Some hospitals have SAD light therapy rooms to help out patients affected with SAD. You can get a SAD light therapy box for personal use, but most of them are pretty expensive.

Although SAD light boxes use light of high intensity, the electricity usage cost is not great as these are not used for a long time. Most of the SAD light boxes create at least 10,000 lux of light intensity. This may sound bright, but when you consider the light intensity outside on a sunny day, which may be as high as 90,000 lux, you don’t feel that this intensity is too high. At 10,000 lux, you can easily read a book comfortably without hurting your eyes. The typical SAD light box is about two feet long, light in weight and about 10 cm deep.

Earlier people used to think that using full-spectrum bulbs that simulated the natural white light of the sun was better. But today, many scientists are of the opinion that the intensity of the light on a person’s eyes is more important than the appearance of the light. Intensity of light is also dependant on how far your eyes are from the light box. If you compare SAD light boxes from various manufacturers, you should go for the ones that produce 10,000 lux light intensity at a greater distance, as lights of such intensity can be harmful at a close range. A space of about 50 to 60 cm is generally good for the eyes.

Other than SAD light therapy boxes, devices like dawn simulators also help achieve the same effect of combating SAD. They generally come with built-in alarm clocks. About half an hour before your alarm goes off, a dawn simulator gradually begins to brighten the light to simulate the coming up of the sun. Similar to real sunlight, this light will penetrate your eyelids even though you may be sleeping.

Seasonal Affective Disorder, also known as SAD, winter is a mood disorder. Most SAD sufferers experience typical psychological health all throughout the year, but experience depressive symptoms during the winter. A similar condition in the summer is known to as Reverse Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Seasonal Affective Disorder is often difficult to diagnose. Often it is misunderstood or overlooked. SAD is caused by an imbalance in the brain due to shortening of daylight hours and the lack of sunlight in winter. For many, SAD is a serious form of illness, preventing them from carrying out normal activities without continuous medical treatment. For other people, it is not that serious, only causing some discomfort, a condition known as sub-syndromal SAD or winter blues.

Recent studies have indicated that depressed people are generally more susceptible to the differences in temperature. Some researchers have attributed this to lower levels of electrolytes, essential minerals and salts in the body. Potassium is one of these. It has been shown that low levels of potassium can cause severe migraines. Lack of vitamin D and exposure to the sun can bring on SAD. SAD can begin at any age, but is rarely seen during the childhood years. Mostly it occurs in women who are above the age of 35.

Light therapy has been seen to be effective in most of the diagnosed cases of SAD. Light exposure (10 times the intensity of ordinary domestic lighting) from half an hour to several hours per day helps combat SAD. Ordinary light bulbs are not intense enough for this purpose. Whereas in general, the average home or office light delivers an intensity of 200-500 lux, the minimum recommended dose necessary to treat SAD is 2500 lux. Some SAD light therapy boxes deliver up to 10,000 lux. This high intensity can shorten treatment time.If any of the various symptoms of SAD is evidenced, it is highly suggested that the patient or his/ her near and dear ones should seek proper medical care. It might be something as simple as a chemical imbalance in the body that a small change in diet might swiftly fix. Sometimes a trip to sunnier climes or to a spa can do wonders to compensate for the condition. But in a few cases, it could be more severe. But all such cases can now be effectively treated. With the recent advances in science, SAD can be treated very successfully and the patients’ quality of life can thus be greatly improved.

Does the advent of the winter season make you feel uneasy? Does the darkness cast a pall of gloom over you? You are not alone. For many people, winter brings along with it the depressing condition known as Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD. Here we shall find out why this happens and how to combat this problem.

The symptoms of SAD are a tendency to slow down, a reduction in energy, a desire to eat more and an overall feeling of depression. More and more people are now understanding SAD and studies are being made to find the exact causes and the ways to combat it. It has been found out that cold is not the main culprit; SAD is related to the amount of sunlight exposure we get, how much and for how long. SAD is linked to a lack of sunlight reaching our skin, which disturbs the body’s natural rhythms. Because of its connection to sunlight, SAD is much more common in countries that experience short days during winter than in warmer countries closer to the equator.

Many sufferers, especially in the northern countries take recourse to light therapy, i.e. bright boxes and controlled morning simulations, so as to combat SAD. Many people go to sunnier climes to escape this debilitating effect. There are, of course, other less expensive ways to combat this menace.First option is to control your diet. When attacked by SAD, people tend to go for fatty, carbohydrate-rich comfort foods. Some people resort to drinking. But these matters actually make things worse. It’s advisable to go for foods which have sharp flavors and are low in fat. Extra vitamin B also helps.

Another good option is to get some exercise. It need not be heavy exercise, just a simple walk will do. You can also stick to the indoors and avail the facilities of a good gym. A little exercise can go a long way in fighting various kinds of depression.

A tendency during the winter months is to oversleep. But this is actually detrimental. Better to jump out of bed and greet the day. Even a forced smile in the morning may help you to get rid of the blues. Get up early, get out and feel the sun on your face!

Finally, do the things that make you happy. If you are not feeling up to scratch, then think about what you’d be doing had the weather been different. Think it, do it! See your mood lift up by leaps and bounds!

Most of us have a low point during our day. This is a time when we feel down in the dumps in the middle of the day. Our spirits go down and the energy flags. Many of us have been searching for a solution to this mid-day blues phenomenon. Well, help is at hand. The following few tips will have you raring to go whenever you need a pick-me-up.

1. Try to get up early in the morning. This is more in sync with our natural body clock. Also, get a good dose of the natural morning light. There’s nothing like natural light to beat the blues. You can use light-boxes to expose yourself to good amount of light, too. Take a stroll outside and feel the sun on your face.

2. Reduce the amount of carbohydrates in your diet. Although this might seem to go against the prevailing wisdom, recent research indicates that reduced amount of carbohydrates and increased amount of protein in the diet helps one feel more energetic. So, daily intake of carbs should be kept below 150 grams.

3. Delay the morning coffee. This might seem totally counter productive to some, but there is sound logic behind it. The effects of morning coffee wear out by the time you really need a jolt of energy, generally late in the afternoon. A little before that time is the perfect time to have that cuppa, as it will tide you over that critical time.

4. Keep regular eating habits. Our body expects its intake of fuel at specific mealtimes. So if you do not provide it the expected source of energy when it requires, you will start feeling a lack of energy. Sticking to regular mealtimes will take care of this problem.

5. Relax regularly. You don’t have to devote hours to relaxation, not even 15 or 30 minutes. You can actually take the relaxation doses in short bursts! And this is more helpful. Find a place where you won’t be disturbed, close your eyes, observe your breath, and think happy thoughts. Do this for 2-3 minutes a few times every day.

6. Take a walk if you are not feeling that great. This will get your blood flowing and also expose you to some natural light.

7. Listen to some music. Your favorite music has amazing restorative powers.

8. Try not using the computer before bedtime. Close exposure to bright light may delay your sleep and make you feel groggy the day after.

Try out these simple suggestions, and feel the surge of energy within right when you need it!

At just £235, the Bite Box certainly seems like a bargain. It has 4 light tubes that produce ideal lighting conditions for treatment of S.A.D., and it can be packed up and transported quite easily (it assumes the shape of a brief case). It is advertised for office or home use and has a myriad of features that make it appealing.

Being a sufferer of S.A.D., I decided to try it out and order it. It arrived a week after my order and appeared exactly as advertised. There was no “installation” or configuration; it was literally plug and play.

Initial Impression

The build quality appears quite high, and I’m glad to see that everything is as advertised. This saved me from getting confused or having to make a complaint, as one of my fears with shopping online is that you never seem to receive what you were expecting.

The Brite Box also has a built in timer that is set at 30 minutes which is a very nice touch. This prevents overexposure, not to mention lets you know when your treatment is finished. I found that I just sat down, flicked on the time, and watched TV or read a book. By the time the unit had switched off I was already feeling better.

Usage Impression

Because the unit is so portable I also took it with me to my office. I sit in a cubicle for 8 hours a day as an insurance adjuster, so I don’t get a chance to get much Sun. Having the Brite Box on in the morning made it much easier to get focused and motivated on what I was supposed to accomplish for the day. In fact, the Brite Box has made me a better employee, as I arrive and am ready to go. It’s like an instant energy boost, and I’m glad to have it.

One thing I would like to see in the future is perhaps a different colored case. It’s not that I don’t like the silver/polished aluminum look, but I’d prefer something in a mat finish in some kind of black color. Either way, it’s a small complaint and certainly doesn’t detract from the capabilities of the unit itself.

Overall

At well under £250 the Brite Box is a great buy that is loaded with features. Its portability really expands its usefulness, and it does the job. What more can you ask for in a Light box?

Seasonal affective disorder is a pattern of depression or depression-like symptoms that affect its sufferers following seasonal, light, and climate shifts. Also known as SAD, seasonal affective disorder generally takes its toll on persons during the fall and winter months and is known to affect over 10 million Americans. Typical symptoms of seasonal affective disorder include lethargy, depression, mood swings, and weight gain or loss.

Seasonal affective disorder is typically felt during the autumn and winter months. Only a very small percentage of SAD sufferers experience the condition during the spring or summer. The onslaught of seasonal affective disorder can appear as early as mid Autumn and can last as long as mid Spring; causing some extreme sufferers to feel its effects for half the year. Furthermore, there have been cases of SAD-prone people experiencing symptoms year round when confined in buildings with a lack of windows or no windows at all. The shift from a SAD-induced state of depression into the relative peace of the spring and summer months can sometimes induce a manic reaction in sufferers that can require medicinal treatment such as mood stabilizers. Some extreme cases of seasonal affective disorder require hospitalization.

The demographic criterion for seasonal affective disorder sufferers has been relatively thoroughly established. More than 75% of seasonal affective disorder sufferers are female, and they are typically over thirty years old. Additionally, it is generally reported that the higher north a population is located geographically, the greater the percentage of seasonal affective disorder victims located in that population. Furthermore, someone that has never had SAD symptoms before can start experiencing them after relocating to a point more north than they had been before or even by spending more time indoors, away from windows.It is estimated that nearly half of all Americans can be affected by mood shifts that can be attributed to seasonal changes, but seasonal affective disorder patients suffer from these symptoms on a much greater scale. For instance, it is well known that many Americans generally get a case of “the blues” following the Holidays every year. However, seasonal affective disorder patients suffer from bouts that last far longer and are much more severe.

Treatment options are available for seasonal affective disorder and have varying degrees of success. Since the symptoms of SAD recur yearly, treatment timelines are typically indefinite and strict treatment schedules must be adhered to for the full term to avoid relapse.

Seasonal affective disorder has not long been classified as a genuine disorder. The term only first appeared in 1985 and existing treatment methods, though effective, are still being researched. It took until June of 2006 for the US Food and Drug Administration to approve the use of Wellbutrin XL for the treatment of depressive symptoms caused by seasonal affective disorder.

Since the affliction is fairly new to the American public, many suffer from seasonal affective disorder and not even know it. This problem can be compounded if the person is misdiagnosed with depression, anxiety, or some other such condition that is similar to that of seasonal affective disorder.Here are some warning signs that someone may be suffering from seasonal affective disorder:

• Lethargy or general lack of energy, especially during winter months.
• Depression and feelings of worthlessness, especially during winter months.
• Unaccountable body aches and muscle pains, particularly during winter months.
• Unexplainable suicidal thoughts.
• Exceptionally poor sleeping habits. Particularly insomnia and having a hard time waking. Nearly 90% of all seasonal affective disorder sufferers experience a need for more sleep than usual.
• Uncontrollable and otherwise unexplainable depression that recur yearly around the same time and last throughout the winter months.
• Overeating for no explainable reason. Over 70% of seasonal affective disorder sufferers report eating more than usual, particularly during bouts of extreme depression. Around 80% report an uncontrollable and otherwise unexplainable craving for carbohydrates and sugary sweets. Unsurprisingly, nearly the exact same percentage of around 80% report gaining weight.
• Thoughts of suicide, especially during winter months.
• A complete or nearly complete remission of all adverse symptoms at the change of seasons from winter to spring, only to have them return with the return of cold weather.

Not surprisingly, the instances of seasonal affective disorder rises the farther north from the Equator one travels. Interestingly, however, the existence of snow in a particular geographical location seems to diminish the incidences of seasonal affective disorder.

The first course of action a person should take if they believe they may be afflicted with seasonal affective disorder is to speak to a healthcare professional that is familiar with the syndrome and discuss possible treatment options such as medication and light therapy. Since seasonal affective disorder recurs each year, treatments will most likely be required to be utilized for an indefinite period of time, particularly during the winter months.