Seasonal Affective Disorder
When a case of the winter blues feels more like depression, you may be suffering
from SAD. SAD stands for Seasonal Affective Disorder. SAD is a seasonal disruption of
mood that occurs during the winter months and ceases with the beginning of spring.
Symptoms usually begin in September when days begin to shorten, and last through the
winter into March when the days begin to lengthen again. The symptoms of SAD usually
include episodes of depression, hypersomnia, increased appetite, and weight gain. Light
plays a big part in its origin and in its treatment.
To better understand winter depression, think of it as four months of jet lag. The
human body has hundreds of 24-hour biological rhythms all controlled by one "internal
clock." The sleep cycle is one rhythm. Body temperature is another. The brain's
production of certain chemicals, like the nighttime hormone melatonin, is another.
Melatonin is a hormone produced by a gland in the brain called the pineal gland. High
levels of this hormone can adversely affect our mood. Very little melatonin is secreted in
daytime light and its peak production is usually at night, between 2 and 3 a.m. Due to
their longer nights, winter months cause extra production of melatonin in the body. In the
summer, most of us wake up when it is light outside. The morning light decreases the
levels of melatonin in the body. In winter, however, most of us force ourselves to wake
up while it's still dark outside. The darkness causes increased levels of melatonin, which
cause some people to become depressed.
Seasonal Affective Disorder causes many symptoms of depression. It can cause a
diminished interest or enthusiasm in all, or almost...
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...raphy:
Bibliographical Information:
American Academy of Family Physicians (March 15, 1998). "Seasonal Affective
Disorders," URL http://www.aafp.org/aft/980315ap/saeed.html (visited 1:19 PM,
May 11, 1999).
Chamberlain, Claudine. "SAD Scientists See the Light,"
URL http://abcnews.go.com/sections/living/InYourHead/allinyourhead_13.html
(visited 1:12 PM, May 11, 1999).
Outside In Company. "Outside in S.A.D. Information Sheet,"
URL http://www.outsidein.co.uk/sadinfo.htm (visited 1:05 PM, May 11, 1999).
Solar Brite. "Seasonal Affective Disorder-Solution to SAD-Winter Depression,"
URL http://www.healthtechnologies.com/solarbrite/solution.htm (visited 1:36 PM,
May 11, 1999)
Thrive@Health. "Seasonal Affective Disorder,"
URL http://www.thriveonline.com/health/Library/illsymp/illness470.html (visited
1:30 PM, May 11, 1999).
Seasons can convey a multitude of meanings. Though the Kokinshū consists of numerous sections, the seasonal sections are the best at conveying the power of human creativity. The seasons in poetry are used to show everything from the passage of time as well as evoke feelings such as loneliness and love. As shown in the spring sections of the Kokinshū, seasons are treated in poetry through their progression from one part of the season to another, seasonal imagery in describing the season, related emotional expressions, and the linking of human emotion to the natural surroundings.
Seasonal Affective Disorder: A Clear Link Between the Outside and the Inside of the Brain
Miller, Susan, Karen Springer, Peter Katel, and Binnie K. Fisher. "Melatonin Mania." Newsweek November 6, 1995: 60-63.
Our bodies rely on two different things to let our bodies know when we need to be asleep. One is called the circadian rhythm, which is the physical, mental and behavioral changes that follow a twenty four hour cycle, that revolves around the light and dark of the day. Basically, our bodies are like our own little clocks which are controlled by a part of the brain called the suprachiasmatic
fauna will start to creep out of hiding. The few summer months are used by many
significant changes in seasonal affective disorders (Keyworth et al., 2014). In a recent study of
capture the full effect of light during this short period of the day with the study
It's wintertime, and you are gathered for the holidays with all of your family and friends. Everything seems like it should be perfect, yet you are feeling very distressed, lethargic and disconnected from everything and everyone around you. "Perhaps it is just the winter blues," you tell yourself as you delve into the holiday feast, aiming straight for the sugary fruitcake before collapsing from exhaustion. However, the depression and other symptoms that you feel continue to persist from the beginning of winter until the springtime, for years upon end without ceasing. Although you may be tempted to believe that you, like many millions of other Americans, are afflicted with a case of the winter blues, you are most likely suffering from a more severe form of seasonal depression known as Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD. This form of depression has been described as a form of a unipolar or bipolar mood disorder which, unlike other forms of depression, follows a strictly seasonal pattern. (5).
“Depression is a mood that goes well beyond temporarily feeling sad or blue” (Duckworth 1). Depression is when one feels out of character, by different kinds of sadness, loneliness, hopelessness, self doubt, and guilt. Usually a person feels more depressed at a time of grievance, like the loss of a loved one, or having a bad day. In most cases simple depression only last for a day in situations of small embarrassment, however if a person is feeling more depressed they will have a huge lack of energy and loss of interest in activities.
Depression is defined as "a state of despondency marked by feelings of powerlessness and hopelessness" (Coon, 2001). Some people can mix up depression with just having the blues because of a couple of bad days or even weeks. It is already said that depression affects about one sixth of the population or more (Doris, Ebmeier, Shajahan, 1999). Depression can happen in any age range from birth to death. The cause of depression is still obscure and becoming clear that a number of diverse factors are likely to be implicated, both genetic and environmental. Some causes are leading stressful lives, genetic factors, a previous depressive episode, and the personality trait neuroticism (Doris, et al., 1999).
The imagery associated with winter is possibly the most negative of all the seasons, and an. immediate sense of harshness and coldness arises, which is negative. connotations with the idea of time. The word ‘besiege’, in a sense. personifies time as the enemy and furthermore is effective through the physical images it evokes.
The body seems to be slower. Motivation to do anything takes a hit. In fact, in a survey taken in Maryland, over 90% of the people surveyed reported that they noticed a change in mood, behavior, and energy levels with the change of seasons.... ... middle of paper ...
In winter, there are many great activities to do and play. First, winter contains something that no other season contains which is snow. A numerous amount of people like to play in the snow and play a variety of games. They are making a snowman, having a snowball fight, or even making snow angles. Then, there are more games to play that involve snow like skiing, hockey, even snowboarding. There are also some people who have never seen snow so they eventually become fascinated with it.Winter can make people feel a variety of emotions and make “your mood lighten up”
What research has told us is that sleep is relegated by an internal time clock or what the experts call the circadian cycle. First circadian comes from two Latin words circa: about and dia: day. All the various bodily function cycle that occur during the day are related to our circadian cycle. Since the time of Aristotle and Hippocrates these cycles have been recognized. Our sleep/wake cycles is one of the best known bodily functions to show circadian rhythms, and even our vital signs are directly linked to this cycle. As technology advances we gain more precise measurements, allowing researchers to recognize more circadian cycles which in turn teach us how our bodies work and function. On an interesting note it has been found that bone length is linked to and show a circadian cycle.
“Depression is a condition in which a person feels discouraged, sad, hopeless, unmotivated or disinterested in life in general. When these feelings last for a short period of time, it may be a case of "the blues"” (Understanding the Facts), but when such feelings last for more than two weeks and when the feelings interfere with daily activities it is likely that you may be in a major depressive state.