Can you feel the lengthening of the days?

Today is January 10th, and we are well past the solstice. This means that the days have become longer, and if we hold onto that, the rest of the winter should be a bit easier to bear.

If you are at my lattitude (that of Boston, Massachusetts) this means that today the sun arose at 7:11 AM and will set at 4:29 PM. Yes, that still seems impossibly early for sunset, but remember, tomorrow it will set incrementally later. And the next day. And the next.

Reflect on this while sitting in a brightly-lit room, or in front of your light box. Imagine the warmth of a summer day. Visualize yourself on the beach, eyes closed, face upturned to the warm sun, still high in the sky in late afternoon. a momentary darkness falls across your closed eyelids. It is a little sun-cloud. As the warm breeze pushes the cloud away and light floods over your face again, you can imagine that cloud getting smaller and smaller as it moves off into the distance, finally dissappearing beyond the horizon.

That little cloud is not just a symbol of winter, but of your winter blues as well. Embrace the "light in your mind" while you replenish your energy with your chosen light therapy device or system.

Now, have some chocolate and remember you can always go to this special, private beach in your mind.

Peace and wellness,

Kevin Kennedy-Spaien

Happy Winter Solstice!

Today is Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere.

For Seasonal Affective Disorder sufferers who are of the "Glass is half empty" mindset, you may feel overwhelmed and depressed since we are now at the point when there is such a very small amount of daylight. I, however always look at this day as a cause of celebration. It's all downhill from here.

Although Winter only officialy begins today, with each passing day the amount of daylight minutes (and hours) will only increase. There is finally light at the end of the tunnel!

Reflect on this when you are feeling the pangs of Winter Blues or SAD, and you may find yourself feeling recharged. In the mean time, continue with your treatments, light box therapy, medication, whatever you have been doing, and focus on the longer days ahead.

Good Health And Happiness,

-Kevin Kennedy-Spaien
Editor

Clinical Trial of Drug for SAD Currently Enrolling

If you live in the Maryland area and are diagnosed with Seasonal Affective Disorder, the National Institutes of Health may have an offer for you.

They are currently recruiting for a study of the drug Propranolol in the treatment of Seasonal Affective Disorder.

From the site:


INCLUSION CRITERIA
Men and non-pregnant women non-smokers of all ethnic backgrounds between the ages of 18 to 50 who are free of major medical illness and who agree and are medically able to abstain from alcohol and all drugs, to adhere to a regular sleep schedule, and to limit caffeine-intake to less than or equal to 2 cups of coffee per day for at least two weeks (prescription drugs, 4 weeks) before, and for 4 weeks during the treatment period are eligible to participate.
Healthy volunteers will also be free of major psychiatric illness.
Patients will meet the criteria of Rosenthal et al. (1982) for Seasonal Affective Disorder.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA
Patients will be ineligible for participation if they are currently being treated with an antidepressant drug.
Women who are pregnant or breast feeding will not participate.
Individuals who have a major medical illness or who are unable to abstain from nicotine, alcohol and all drugs for at least two weeks (prescription drugs 4 weeks) and to limit caffeine-intake to less than or equal to 2 cups per day of coffee before the study and during the study will not participate.
Individuals with cardiac valve disease will be excluded.
Individuals with histories of these illnesses or conditions will specifically be excluded from participating: asthma, bronchospastic disease, obstructive pulmonary disease, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, A-V block, peripheral vascular disease, diabetes, thyrotoxicosis, severe allergic reactions, and sinus bradycardia.
Subjects older than 50 will be excluded.
Patients who report that they have been previously treated with a beta adrenergic receptor antagonist will be excluded.
Individuals who have unusual or irregular sleep schedules or who work on shifts will be excluded from participating.

The NIH is using these terms to refer people to the study:
Season
Light
Propranolol
Photoperiod
Pharmacokinetics
Circadian Rhythm
Seasonal Rhythm
Seasonal Affective Disorder
Pineal Gland
Suprachiasmatic Nucleus

Read the full proposal:
Treatment of Winter Depression with Pharmacological Suppression of Melatonin Secretion [NIH.gov]

SAD Trivia

Did you know...

• Although SAD usually strikes in the winter months and in colder climates, a less common version of Seasonal Affective Disorder can occur in the summer.


• You’re about seven times more likely to suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder if you live in New Hampshire than if you live in Florida.


• You’re more likely to suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder if you’re female and over the age of 20, although SAD is sometimes seen in kids, adolescents and men.

Courtesy of girlpower.gov

APA warns about Seasonal Affective Disorder

The American Psychiatric Association has a warning for those who suffer from "Winter Blues". According to a press release dated from November 30, 2005, they are advising that:

"Getting screened and evaluated is a smart, sensible way to take care of your health and ensure that you can enjoy the pleasures of the season... Symptoms of SAD [Seasonal Affective Disorder] can be confused with other medical conditions, such as hyperthyroidism or viral infections like mononucleosis, so a proper evaluation by a medical professional is crucial... If you feel you are suffering from SAD, consult with your doctor about possible treatment options... Visit www.mentalhealthscreening.org to locate a depression screening site near you."

Light Therapy and Its Uses

"Light therapy", sometimes known as Phototherapy, is a popular treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). In Light Therapy, the subject is exposed to certain ranges of light wavelengths - generated by either lasers or LED - or very bright, full-spectrum light, for a set period of time. Not only has phototherapy proven effective in treating Seasonal Affective Disorder, but for some people it has shown significant improvement for Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome. Light Therapy has further been seen to show improvement in certain skin conditions such as Psoriasis, as well.

Full sunlight is preferred for SAD. Other treatments are based upon infrared light exposure. There are a number of products (such as light boxes) using very intense artificial illumination that have been shown to be effective for SAD. A quality light lamp or light box must provide at least 10,000 lux directed at the user's eyes, yet filter out UV radiation which can injure the eyes.

When treating Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome, the light must be provided as soon after arising as possible to achieve any effect. Some users have reported success with lights that turn on shortly before waking.

Phototherapy is also used as a treatment for Jaundice in newborns, because light aids the breakdown of bilirubin in the skin.

The History of Seasonal Affective Disorder as a diagnosis

Winter depression (or winter blues) has long been recognized as a common ailment in Scandinavians. Doctors have estimated that approximately one fifth of all Swedes suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder, and it is believed to be hereditary.

SAD was first described in the sixth century AD by a Gothic scholar named Jordanes. In his book, Getica, he described the ailment when discussing the inhabitants of Scandza (Scandinavia).

In the United States, the diagnosis of Seasonal Affective Disorder was first suggested by one Norman E. Rosenthal, MD. His work was based on personal observations of his own seasonal adjustment when moving from South Africa to New York. Like Jordanes, Dr. Rosenthal has published on the topic.

Since the 1990's SAD has come to be recognized as a real, treatable mood disorder by general consensus among western medicine practitioners.