Category — Seasonal Affective Disorder

I’m not a big fan of blaring alarm clocks. I find that they scare me asleep as opposed to awakening me gradually, and when I wake up I’m in a sort of “panic mode”. It’s a very uncomfortable feeling. Yet, up until a friend of mine showed me the Bodyclock Sunray Dawn alarm clock, I didn’t even realize that there were other options that were less abrupt. I ordered mine and was gleefully awaiting its arrival.

Before I continue I should mention that the alarm clock comes in a fairly small package and doubles as a bedside lamp. These features, though not really important to me, are still great additions to this product that really expand its uses beyond “just an alarm clock”.

Initial Impression

The clock arrived eight days after I ordered it and was well packaged. It needs a 220-240 volt 60 watt bulb (which I knew in advance) and had already purchased for it. Setup of the clock is quite simple: take it out of its packaging, plug in the light bulb, plug it into the wall socket, set the time, and set the time you want the alarm to go off. It also includes an audible alarm that you can turn on or off depending on your preference.

When used as a lamp the light is fairly bright and is more than sufficient as a bedside lamp. I found reading quite easy, and it does get quite bright if you turn it up to the maximum brightness setting. Thankfully it operates as a dimmer so you don’t have to blind yourself all the time.It also includes a neat feature where it can go from being bright to dark in about 20 minutes to half an hour, which is good for actually falling asleep as well. It’s a feature that I’ve used more often than I expected.

Usage Impression

The alarm clock, upon activation, increases the intensity of the light over a period of a half an hour. It took me a few days to figure out when in that cycle I actually awoke, thereby allowing me to set the alarm accordingly. However, once I had figured that out it simply meant setting the alarm 10 minutes later.

The alarm works exactly as you’d expect it to, and I found it quite refreshing wake up under more natural circumstances as opposed to having an alarm blaring in my ear. It really changed my overall mood for the whole day.

Overall

This was a great idea and a great purchase. It is a tad expensive for an alarm clock at £55, but for me, it’s completely worth it.

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A few weeks ago I posted a review of the Diamond 3 Light box, and after some careful consideration, I decided to sell it and purchase the Diamond 4 simply because I liked the idea of treatments taking a little less time. The Diamond 3 was a great unit and I still recommend it, but instead of 30-40 minute treatments I’d rather 20-30 minute ones instead.I purchased the Diamond 4 for £270, which is around £25 more than the Diamond 3. That extra £25 gives you an extra bulb, which is the entire point behind these dang things anyway.

Initial Impression

The Diamond 4 arrived six days after my order, and once I had it in my hands it was the same simple setup process as the Diamond 3. This time, however, I ordered the optional wall mounting brackets and did a bit of custom installation. Rather than have it sit on the floor or mount on the wall I mounted it above my shower. I am fortunate enough to be blessed with a shower that sits on the ceiling directly above the shower as opposed to being mounted on a wall.

I turn the Diamond 4 on when I walk in the shower, and since I spend a few minutes every day in there and it is reasonably contained I feel that it will work out well. It’s mounted in such a way that it won’t come into contact with any water, and all of the electric components are put into the wall and shielded in order to prevent me from getting one nasty electric shock.

Usage Impression

I found that my average shower length was 15 minutes, and while I was in there the Diamond 4 was on full blast. I noticed that the results were similar to my 30 minute sessions with the Diamond 3, and I can’t even begin to tell you how nice that feeling is. I feel refreshed, “alive”, and in charge. When I don’t use the light box I tend to feel sluggish and tired, so it’s great to shed that feeling during the winter.

It worked great when mounted to my shower roof, it never malfunctioned, and it didn’t mind the slight increase in humidity either.

Overall

I don’t recommend mounting the Diamond 4 in the shower unless you’re willing to accept the responsibility of something happening (as I was). It works great, and it’s definitely worth the £25 difference between the Diamond 3.

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.

In their search to stave off the harsh symptoms of seasonal affective disorder treatment every year, many sufferers turn to prescription medication as well as the more common light therapy. Since the disorder primarily only affects the person during the winter months, when days are notably shorter in length and much more time is spent indoors, the medication schedule is typically cyclical as well. Most sufferers find that they only have to take prescription medication for about half the year or less.

The first prescription medication to be specifically approved for the treatment of seasonal affective disorder is Wellbutrin XL, or bupropion hydrochloride extended release. Wellbutrin (bupropion) is an aminoketone-class anti-depressive medication that is typically prescribed to patients as a treatment for depression, anxiety, and even smoking-cessation.

A double-blind clinical trial was conducted by Glaxo-Smith-Kline, Wellbutrin’s manufacturer. Over 1,000 trial volunteers that are afflicted with seasonal affective disorder were given either Wellbutrin XL or a placebo starting in the late autumn or early winter months, the time frame at which SAD syndrome typically kicks in. The selection process was entirely random and the treatment was halted in the spring, when symptoms typically dissipate. Out of the Wellbutrin XL users, almost 85% reported no depression compared to only around 70% of placebo users.

Another common type of medication prescribed for the treatment of seasonal affective disorder is that of SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors). SSRIs are most commonly used to treat various types of depression and anxiety disorders so their use in treating seasonal affective disorder is not surprising. The most common SSRIs used to treat SAD syndrome are Zoloft (sertraline), Paxil (paroxetine), and Prozac (fluoxetine).

Side effects with anti-depressants are not rare and in some cases have been known to become as consuming to the individual as the original condition being treated. Side effects of Wellbutrin XL include, anxiety, agitation, dizziness, sweating, hypertension, headache, insomnia, dry mouth, tremors, loss of appetite, and increased risk of seizure.

Treating seasonal affective disorder with medication is favored among most physicians and researchers as long as other methods such as light therapy are employed and the medicinal regimen is thoroughly monitored and regulated under the careful guidance of a physician. The multi-faceted approach utilized by most physicians comfortable with the condition of prescribing antidepressive medication plus exercise and light treatments has proven exceptionally successful in a number of seasonal affective disorder sufferers.

Seasonal affective disorder affects over 10 million Americans and is a serious, often debilitating medical condition that can leave those that suffer from it incapacitated from depression, chronic lethargy, and other serious symptoms. A similar phenomenon is frequently called the “winter blues” or even sometimes known as the “post-holiday blues.” Though these “blues” conditions affect millions more people than that of seasonal affective disorder, the severity of the conditions vary greatly.

Seasonal affective disorder victims start showing serious signs of distress as early in the cooler months as mind autumn. The seasonal affective disorder period can be as long as six months and can last until March, when spring arrives. The condition arises from an offset of chemicals that are naturally released by the brain as a result of being exposed to natural light, particularly sunlight. The seasonal affective disorder sufferer can experience a variety of symptoms such as sever weight fluctuation, depression, mood swings, irritability, insomnia, and feelings of suicide. Because of its severity, many physicians and researchers often recommend strong anti-depressants to seasonal affective disorder sufferers for mood stabilization.

The “blues,” particularly “post-holiday blues” are most often attributed to the absence of an immediate event to look forward to following the Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve celebrations that have just passed. Persons who have these blues may suddenly feel “dropped” into the new year with nothing to look forward to, especially when compared to the hustle and bustle experienced throughout the holiday rush. These cases of the blues almost never require any treatment other than a healthy dose of time and separation from the end of the holidays. As the winter rolls on, it is quite normal for those susceptible to the “post-holiday blues” to continue on with the more broadly termed “winter blues,” though both afflictions are very similar in nature.

As with the “post-holiday blues,” the “winter blues” are very temporary and usually easily treated with exercise, happier thoughts, and time used to get the sufferer’s mind off his/her depressed state.

While the two may seem an awful lot alike to the bystander, the seasonal affliction disorder sufferer dealing with years of SAD with seemingly no control over their behavior and thoughts would agree that they are very largely separate conditions, even though they seem much the same on the outside. If someone suspects that they have seasonal affective disorder, they should seek immediate medical help and professional treatment options immediately.

Though physicians and researchers have presented numerous and varied treatment solutions for seasonal affective disorder sufferers, sometimes the seemingly simplest solutions offer the most relief. Light therapy has been used to treat seasonal affective disorder sufferers successfully for years. The principle behind the treatment is that the light therapy is powerful enough that it mimics the natural light given off by the sun, therefore offsetting the lack of sunlight and increased time indoors. The brain, once exposed to this bright light, releases chemicals such as melatonin that impose feelings of well-being and naturally elevate patients’ moods.

Light therapy used for the treatment of seasonal affective disorder has traditionally been implemented through the use of a light box. The SAD sufferer is forced to take hours out of his or her day to fix their gaze almost directly at the light source in order to treat their symptoms.

Fortunately, the innovation has come along so that an adequate light source that closely mimics that of natural sunlight can be affixed to the brim of a visor to be worn by the seasonal affective disorder sufferer. The placement of the bulb ensures that the direction of the light is appropriate and remains fixed above the eyes. One drawback of the more conventional light box is that of placement – proper placement is crucial to the success of the treatment so light that originates from below, from directly in front of, or from the sides of the eyes is not effective at mimicking natural sunlight.

It is important to remember that seasonal affective disorder light therapy fluorescent bulbs and tubes should not give off UV rays or should properly shield the eyes from UV rays. Additionally, conventional household lights do not supply adequate light for seasonal affective disorder light therapy to be affective. Finally, the more traditional method of light therapy - the light box – requires the user to remain stationary and stare straight forward during the treatment period.

The light visor is the solution to all of these concerns. Light visors manufactured for the specific purpose of treating seasonal affective disorder should not emit dangerous UV rays. Secondly, the fluorescent bulbs that come with the visor are capable of exerting enough energy to thoroughly mimic natural daylight, giving the treatment a much higher chance of being successful. Finally, since the light visor is worn, seasonal affective disorder sufferers can move about freely during their light therapy treatment and even conduct other tasks that are not obstructive.