A Critical View of Seasonal Affective Disorder
Abstract
This paper is intended to be a critical view of Seasonal Affective Disorder. In order to understand fully the biological and psychological components of the disease, as well as its possible causes and treatments, it is necessary to compile and interpret previously conducted research. Such is the purpose of this paper. First, the symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder will be explained and illustrated using data and case studies. Second, the possible causes of the disease will be outlined. Third, proposed treatments will be presented as possible solutions to this debilitating disease.
A Critical View of Seasonal Affective Disorder
Norman E. Rosenthal and his colleagues were the first to highlight a pattern of cyclical unipolar depression that was linked to the changing of the seasons, most often from fall to winter months through to the springtime, specifically November to March. His observations of case studies led to a rediscovery of SAD and a modern definition on the disease. In one particular case study, Rosenthal explained, “The patient’s tendency to overeat, feel fatigued and lethargic, oversleep, crave carbohydrates, and gain weight – depressive symptoms that have all been designated ‘atypical’ in the literature on depression – are actually common in SAD, although a significant minority of patients report the more ‘typical’ vegetative symptoms of eating less, sleeping less, and losing weight”(Rosenthal, 1993).
Thus, the symptoms of the majority of patients diagnosed with SAD were characteristic, and when linked to a cyclic pattern, could be identified. However, Rosenthal’s “significant minority” left room for confusion between SAD and simple unipolar depression. Often, other diseases must first have been ruled out, and a pattern of SAD symptoms over several years been established before proper diagnosis could occur. Despite this, Rosenthal’s work laid the foundation of any future studies conducted to determine the characteristics of SAD.
Although Rosenthal’s findings have been deemed accurate over the past 15 years, their validity was proven only through many other case and mass studies. For instance, Ybe Meesters conducted a very poignant case study in 1997 with a nine-yea...
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Seasonal Affective Disorder: A Clear Link Between the Outside and the Inside of the Brain
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He was in great conflict with the ideas of the white men and the missionaries. Okonkwo saw that their beliefs had not only changed the daily life of the Ibo, but it also changed the people themselves: “He mourned for the warlike men of Umuofia, who had so unaccountably become soft like women” (Achebe 183). The author uses strong diction to compare the men before and after colonization. This quote also portrays Okonkwo’s opinion towards the cultural collision. He values strength and masculinity immensely because of his fear of appearing weak like his father Unoka. When he describes that the men of Umuofia changed to be soft like women, this shows how much he dishonors the Western ideas and how it has taken over the village. He made an attempt to get rid of the Western influence by urging the tribe to fight like men, but they refuse to. He was determined and still attempted to furthermore encourage the people of Umuofia to revolt against the new culture. He realizes that his attempts to return the village back to the way it was before were futile. He knew that Christianity was tearing his people apart, but knew he was incapable of making change to help his people. Okonkwo then starts to feel hopeless and abandoned by his clan, which causes him to commit suicide by hanging himself: “Obierika… turned suddenly to the District Commissioner and said ferociously: ‘That man was one of the greatest men
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).
Major Depressive Disorder, according to Coon, is a mood disorder in which the person has suffered one or more intense episodes of depression. Major Depressive Disorder falls under mood disorders subtopic depressive disorders (Coon 2013). “Psychologist have come to realize that mood disorders (major disturbances in emotion) are among the most serious of all psychological conditions. In any given year, roughly 9.5 percent of the U.S. population suffers from a mood disorder (National Institute of Mental Health, 2011a)” (Coon 2013). I was one of the 9.5 percent. I have decided to write on this topic because I want to understand what causes it. I have been depressed before without medication or counseling and I wanted to know why do you get depressed and how does it impact you. This essay will talk about disorder information, disorder triggers, research on depression, treatment for depression, and theorist’s experiments for Major Depression Disorder.
Depression is well known for its mental or emotional symptoms. Symptoms for depression include: persistently sad or unhappy mood, loss of interest or pleasure in previously enjoyable activities, difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions, anxiety, feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness, and thoughts of death or dying. “People who have endured a major depressive episode describe the experience as a descent into t...
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When I was younger and felt “under the weather” or was having a bad day, my mother always used to kick me to the outdoors and tell me to soak up some sun. I always thought that it was all mumbo jumbo, the sun can not really have an effect on my mood, can it? As a young child I thought it was a myth, just another way for my mother to subtly tell me to stop moping around the house and get me out into the fresh air. Come to find out, her words of wisdom were true, the sun really does have an impact on your mood! Have you ever felt like you were walking on sunshine, and nothing could get you down? Or have you ever needed more than just a couple of pushes on the snooze button yet still to wake up and find yourself in a bad mood already, only to get worse when you step outside? All you want to do is crawl in a corner and hide for the rest of the day? These might just be reactions to the effects of light and color. Light and color, natural as well as indoor lighting, can play tricks with how the body thinks, effect sleep habits, and effect overall wellness.
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 ...
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Our understanding and the concept of investment in behavioural finance combines economics and psychology to analyse how and why investors make final decision. As an investor one’s decision to invest is fully influence by different type of attitudes of behavioural and psychological ( Ricciardi & Simon, 2000). Yet, in order to maximize their financial goal, investors must have a good investment planning. Furthermore , to gain a good investment planning , there must be a good decision making among investors. They have to choose the right investment plan I order to manage the resources for different type of investments not only to gain profit wise but also to avoid the risk that occur from investment.