As the days get shorter and the leaves begin to change to various hues of red, yellow, and orange, millions of men and women will start to experience symptoms that they may not understand.  They may feel like they have little energy or have difficulty getting up in the morning.  They may sleep too much or stop doing activities that they enjoy.  Social isolation may become a problem.  They may crave sweet and starchy foods and end up gaining weight.  Difficulty concentrating may lead to problems at work or school.  They may or may not realize that they suffer from seasonal affective disorder.

Seasonal affective disorder, also known as winter depression or the winter blues, is thought to be related to the decreased amount of light that occurs during that time of year.  It may be a human variant of human hibernation and evolution when early humans living in the parts of the world further from the equator would adjust their level of activity as a result of the shorter days and less readily available food sources.  This seasonal depression is more common in the parts of the earth further from the equator.  It shows up at a 9.5% rate in Finland and 9% rate in Alaska but is only present in 1.5% of individuals in Florida.

The lack of sunlight during the winter season in these areas of the world is likely a major contributing factor in the manifestation of this disorder.  Experts believe that the lower levels of sunlight lead to an increased level of melatonin and decreased levels of serotonin in the brain which leads to the development of depression.  As a result, treatments for seasonal affective disorder seek to correct these likely causes.

One of the treatments for seasonal depression involves the use of a light therapy box.  Exposure to bright light at work or at home is designed to simulate exposure to sunlight altering your body’s release of melatonin.  Individuals may also need to take anti-depressant medications that increase the level of serotonin in the brain to counteract the effects of decreased light.  Psychotherapy may be part of a useful treatment strategy as well.  Occasionally well timed use of supplemental melatonin may also be helpful.

If you or a loved one notice that you exhibit any of the signs or symptoms described above and yet experience normal mood during the summer months, you should consider that you might be afflicted by seasonal affective disorder.  You should be especially suspicious if you have noticed a recurring pattern year after year.  The treatment may simply involve recognition of the condition and some light therapy.