Seasonal Affective Disorder and its Effects
Why is it that in dark, cloudy weather I take on a gloomy personality? Why do suicide rates drastically increase during the winter months? Why is the overall student body at USC much happier than the average Mawrtyr? Why do I constantly find myself fatigued and lethargic when the weather outside is lousy?
For one reason or another, I allow the whims of Mother Nature to determine how I think and feel. If I wake up and the sun is brightly shining through my window creating a beautiful mixture of dark and light shadows, I suddenly feel happy and look forward to the day ahead. On the other hand, if I wake up and look out onto another cloudy and cold day in February at Bryn Mawr, I have the aching desire to crawl back into bed and sleep the day away.
I am not alone in that my mood and disposition are determined daily during those first few moments in which I am awake. In fact, this phenomenon is shared by many. The general feeling of winter depression coupled with normal mood in the summer has been around for centuries, but it was not until the 1980s that it was characterized as a type of clinical depression (1). Psychologists have long been studying the effects of what they now refer to as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), the biological condition associated with changes in weather patterns.
Can Seasonal Affective Disorder be considered a true medical condition? Everyone reacts to the changing seasons with corresponding changes in mood and behavior, but some experience more severe symptoms which alter their whole way of life. The symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder tend to first appear in late September when the days get shorter and the temperatures drop, and last until April or May.
Seasonal Affective Disorder is characterized by recurring periods of depression lasting for at least two successive years of seasonal change (2). Other symptoms include a voracious appetite involving a high carbohydrate craving and accompanied by a 10-20 pound weight gain, sleep problems, memory loss, suicidal thoughts, problems concentrating, and an overall lack of interest in or enjoyment of activities. Unlike other forms of clinical depression, Seasonal Affective Disorder involves the cyclical pattern of depression that comes as the amount of daylight hours decrease and disappears as the days get longer (1). SAD patients often have hypersomnia during the winter and become manic or hyperactive in the spring.
Various moral and physical environments can greatly influence the beliefs, ideas, and decisions people make. Our moral environment shapes people's surrounding climate of ideas, influencing how they live. Our physical environment is what individuals depend on, even though it is extremely fragile. Whether one admits it or not, atmospheres can affect everything that occurs in life, and can significantly change people's quality of life over the years. Understanding this concept in depth can be difficult. Furthermore, you might find yourself in a spiral of questions and concerns on how exactly these environments affect human beings. Blackburn's Being Good and Nottage's Sweat give exquisite examples and inferences on how we are affected from the
Major depressive disorder is a mood disorder characterized by the DSM-5 of depressed mood and markedly diminished interest or pleasure in nearly all activities occurring nearly every day, for most of the day, as indicated by a subjective self-report or an observational report from others. Individuals who have depression also tend to experience significant weight loss, insomnia or hypersomnia, psychomotor agitation, fatigue and loss of energy, feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt, diminished ability to concentrate, and recurrent thoughts of death. Most people who suffer from depression usually experience major depressive episodes in unipolar major depression, while some others experience both depressive and manic episodes in bipolar
Jonathan Edwards uses every talent he possesses to persuade listeners and readers alike. His knowledge of biblical verse, skillful use of visual imagery, and comparisons between a doctrine and application combine to form a strong and moving argument that revolves around his intense desire for salvation.
Individually, the characters of Cato, Sordello, Statius, and Matelda each serve as corrected counterparts to other characters, allowing Dante to learn by comparisons. As a whole, these secondary guides are critical in shaping Dante-author’s vision of Purgatory and the lessons Dante-character is meant to learn. They bridge the gap between classical and Christian wisdom, and further the development of his Christian poet identity, to allow him to progress beyond his poetic models. They exemplify freedom, hope, divine guidance, and love as the key values in Purgatory, defining Dante’s Purgatorial experience and shaping his will to be virtuous enough to enter Paradise, the next step of his journey.
Human trafficking has been entwined into the structure of governments, arms trade, drug trade, and even spreads as far as terrorism. For many years it has been a fact that the money that has been made by selling other humans to the highest bidder. It is also known that the organized crime operations generate one of the most profitable resources to the organization. These organizations use this money for theirs or other’s crime and end up in the hands of drug lords. Drug lords, in order to promote their own business give money to support terrorist groups and activities. Security after September 11, 2001 has recognized human trafficking as a national and international security risk.
Major Depressive Disorder, which is also referred to as Clinical Depression, is a disorder caused when low serotonin levels, that suppress pain perception and are often found in the pineal gland at the center of the brain, promote low levels of norepinephrine, a monoamine neurotransmitter that controls cognitive ability. This disabling disorder interferes with a person’s daily life as it prevents one from performing normal functions, such as eating, sleeping, interacting, or enjoying once pleasurable activities. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, the common symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder are continued feelings of anxiety, worthlessne...
According to the DSM5 major depressive describes a person who is in a depressed mood for most of the day, nearly everyday. The person also has a diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the time. There may be significant weight loss or gain as a result of decrease or increase of appetite, respectively. The person may also experience insomnia or hyper insomnia nearly everyday. There may also be a consistent feeling of fatigue or loss of energy. Usually in major depression, there are feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt. It is also common to have a diminished ability to think, concentrate, or experience indecisiveness. All of these symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. (DSM 5, 160-161)
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).
Many of the symbols that represent Hell are things that are feared, such as spiders and snakes. Edwards declares the terror of the sinners: “That God holds you over the pit of hell, much as one holds a spider…over the fire” (26). The unnerving symbol of a spider relates to the religious idea that God is so powerful while the person is so insignificant, such as the spider. By making these connections, the audience can easily understand his point, making his sermon effective. It also provokes the audience, by relating the sinner to a spider and how angry God is, which causes the audience to think about their actions. Edwards speaks with credibility and poise when delivering his sermon, which makes him more effective. He uses logic that says, “If you are a sinner, then you are going to hell”, which makes a strong point. Whether the logic is true or false does not affect the effectiveness of his sermon, because he is able to shock the audience so much that they listen to him without question. This logic that sinners are condemned to hell is referenced in the imagery seen in the sermon. Through his logic and imagery, Edwards creates a very serious tone that makes the sermon very effective in persuading people to convert and become closer with
They have also proved the quote by Hans Christian Anderson to be correct by showing that nature does have a huge impact on one’s happiness and mood. Muir and Wordsworth both show that the power of nature is enough to completely change a person’s day or even their life. When Wordsworth was feeling down and lonely, seeing the daffodils brightened up his day and their memory stuck with him for years. In addition, when Muir was terrified and tired on his journey to find the Calypso Borealis his feelings and confidence completely changed when he discovered it; he still considers “meeting” the flower to be one if his greatest experiences. All things considered, whenever someone is feeling distressed, gloomy, or even mournful, a little bit of nature could be just enough to cheer them
“Human Trafficking: The Facts.” Global Initiative to fight Human Trafficking. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Oct. 2013. .
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).
... “Seasonal affective disorder.” nih.gov. U.S. National Library of Medicine, n.d. Web. The Web. The Web.
The biggest difference between summer and winter is the climate. One of the main attractions of summer is the warm weather. I like being outside on a bright sunny day, and letting the sun warm my body. I also like that we get an occasional thunder storm. The excitement fills the air when I see the thunder clouds rolling in. The sound of thunder, and the lighting shows that come from the storms are fascinating. On the other hand winter i...
Physical surroundings of people help define the nature, intensity, and longevity of their values. A wealth of resources or mild climate creates a sense of well-being and optimism. In contrast rugged terrain, harsh weather, frequent disaster, and a lack of resources can create cynicism, fear of nature, and a need for interdependency to ensure mutual survival. To a degree we can connect favorable conditions with a higher standard of living and more competitive and detail oriented values.