Ten to 20 percent of people experience a form of winter-onset SAD, a type of depression that starts in early winter and usually disappears during the sunnier days of spring and summer.

Symptoms of SAD can include loss of energy, depression, anxiety, oversleeping, and appetite changes. It is normal to have some days when you feel down, but if you feel down for several days at a time, and you find that you are no longer interested in activities that you normally enjoy, it may be a good idea to talk to your doctor.

No one knows the root cause of SAD, but there are several factors that are likely to play a role in the condition. One factor may be your biological clock. It is common to have several gray, dreary days during the winter and this reduction in sunlight may disrupt the body’s internal clock which tells you when you should be awake and when you should be asleep. This disruption in circadian rhythm may lead to feelings of depression. Another cause may be a disrupted balance of melatonin and serotonin levels, which both play a role in affecting mood.

Additionally, factors that may increase your risk of SAD include:

• Being female.
• Living far from the equator.
• Family history of SAD.

Whether you are experiencing SAD or just have a mild case of the ‘Winter Blues’, Mercy suggests these simple tips to beat the blues:

• Exercise: Exercise is not just good for helping you maintain a healthy weight; it also helps you relieve everyday stresses. You will find yourself with more energy and in a better mood.
• Eat a healthy diet: Avoid processed and refined foods such as white breads, rice, and sugar. These foods zap your energy levels and can adversely affect your mood. Instead, eat more complex carbohydrates found in whole wheat breads, brown rice, fruits and vegetables, and drink lots of water.
• Get some sun: Even though it is dark and cold outside, it is healthy to spend as much time outdoors as possible. While inside, open your blinds and let the sunlight in.
• Relax: Everyone gets busy and bogged down with work and chores, but make sure that you take time for yourself. Whether you try yoga and meditation, or take time to read a book before bed, relaxation can help alleviate stress and refresh your energy.
• Get some sleep: With a busy schedule it can be difficult to get enough sleep. However, aim to get 7-8 hours of sleep each night and try to keep your bedtime and wake-time consistent; this way, you can regulate your sleeping patterns and you will have more energy. Avoid oversleeping, as this may leave you more tired. Naps also help in re-energizing your body.

Day after day of gray skies and cold weather, and you just might find yourself coming down with a case of the winter blues.  The winter doesn’t only affect the way we feel, but it also can change the way we eat.  You may reach for calorie-laden comfort foods to boost your spirits, but in the end the weather is still bad and you feel overstuffed.  Of nearly two thirds of U.S. adults, 64 percent agree that they are filled with greater joy soaking up the summer sun, then bundling up in winter coats. According to studies done at Cornell University, the winter blues and its more severe foil, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), affects about four times as many women as men.

Research has begun to reveal how mindful eaters can choose their fuel to help achieve or maintain a desired mental state.  The food you eat can also brighten your winter.  Our moods are linked to the production or use of certain brain chemicals, and scientists have identified many of the natural chemicals in foods that change the way we feel.  That’s right, you can eat certain foods in order to beat the winter blues.  Food influences neurotransmitters by attaching to brain cells and changing the way they behave.  This opens pathways to those cells, so that other mood-altering chemicals can come through the gates and attach themselves to brain cells.

The next time bad weather has got you down take a walk to the kitchen! Here are the foods to eat to beat the winter blues:

When you want to feel pleasant and alert: Eating foods that stimulate the release of dopamine may produce enjoyable feelings. Phenylnine is an essential amino acid found in the brain and blood that can convert in the body to tyrosine, which in turn is used to synthesize dopamine, instantly increasing your energy and alertness. Start your morning off with eggs and whole wheat toast, which stimulate dopamine production, and will help keep you feeling energized throughout the day. Breakfast is a must because it provides glucose to your brain, making you mentally efficient and alert.

To ease feeling of depression: Eat more fish!  Omega-3 fatty acids (found in fatty fish such as salmon, herring, sardines and tuna) may help ease depressive symptoms.  People with higher blood levels of these fatty acids were reported to experience less depressive symptoms, and were generally found to be more pleasant. This effect may be attributed to the fact that omega-3 fats make up about 8 percent of our brain. Higher intakes of these fats are associated with an increased volume of the parts of the brain responsible for mood and behavior.

To get out of a bad mood: A lack of selenium can cause bad moods. Individuals suffering from too little selenium have been shown to be more anxious, irritable, hostile and depressed than people with normal levels of selenium. Brazil nuts, salmon, and shitake mushrooms can instantaneously get you out of this funk.

When you want to feel happy: When we don’t get enough exposure to sunlight, our mood and physical health may suffer. More specifically, serotonin levels, a hormone associated with elevating your mood rises when you’re exposed to sunlight, leaving you to feel sad during the darker winter months.  It might be hard to get a lot of sunlight during the winter, but you should consider in investing in a light therapy box that mimics the sunlight. An amino acid, tryptophan helps raise serotonin levels in your body, causing you to feel upbeat once again. Eating foods that are high in tryptophan such as low-fat cottage cheese, nuts, and chicken will help boost your mood.

Get Moving: Studies show that anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour of exercise every day can have a positive impact on your mood.  When we exercise our body releases endorphins that help us to feel happy. Exercise has also been shown to reduce stress, which can help alleviate feelings of depression brought on by the winter blues.  Not to mention, frequent exercising can make your jeans fit a little better, and that’s a mood booster in itself!
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/01/26/foods-to-beat-winter-blues/#ixzz1l3RHvxAC

When fall colors fade and winter rolls in with its increasingly cold temperatures and dwindling daylight, there’s a good chance you’ve felt sluggish, moody and like you’re stuck in a funk.

Those symptoms are typical of someone experiencing seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, a type of depression that typically occurs during the winter months.

Symptoms include sleeping too much, overeating, loss of energy, social withdrawal and difficulty concentrating. People in cold climates and Northern states are more likely to experience SAD.

While many people periodically experience some elements of SAD in winter , Mayo Clinic psychiatrist Robert Auger, M.D., says you should seek professional help if your symptoms begin to affect your ability to perform at work and/or begin to take a toll on your personal relationships.

Seeking clinical help is particularly important if you begin to feel hopeless, think about suicide or find yourself turning to alcohol for comfort or relaxation, he says.

Dr. Auger offers these tips to keep your mood and motivation steady throughout the winter:

• Get outside – There is no substitute for natural light. If you work during the day, try to go for a walk during a break or lunch.
• Light therapy boxes can help boost your mood when you’re unable to get outdoors.
• Get regular exercise – At least three times a week for 30 minutes.
• Stay social – Interact with family and friends on a regular basis.

Seasonal affective disorder is a type of depression that was first recognized by health professionals in the 1980s, said Jim Jones. He is a a licensed clinical social worker with Pathways.

“The symptoms of SAD start in the fall and pick up as the amount of daily sunlight decreases,” he said. “With less sunlight, you have less changes in the body; less energy. You go into more of a low-energy lifestyle. Because of that, we end up with lot of people who are depressed.”

Everyone slows down to some degree during the winter season, Jones said. But part of the population will suffer enough to be clinically depressed and need clinical treatment.

Some of the symptoms of SAD include either a lack of sleep or sleeping all the time, anxiety, irritability, weight loss or gain, withdrawal from friends and difficulties maintaining a job.

“A lot of these are symptoms we see with major depression,” he said. “In the worst case, it can lead to thoughts of suicide. The way doctors diagnose it is to look for someone who has suffered at least two years in a row and only during certain seasons.”

Sometimes depression can slowly get worse over time, and sometimes people can get better because they learn how to manage things better, Jones said.

Medication is one way to battle the seasonal blues, experts say.

April Downing is an advance-practice nurse and board-certified family practice nurse with Regional Medical Associates. She said as with other types of depression, antidepressant medications and counseling are effective.

“It may take several weeks to notice full benefits from an antidepressant. Also, you may have to try different medications before you find one that works well for you and has the fewest side effects,” she said.

There are other ways to improve symptoms associated with seasonal affective disorder, like exercise and taking long walks during the daylight hours, Downing said.

“Make your home and work environment sunnier and brighter. Open blinds or windows, or add skylights to your home,” she said. “Sit closer to bright windows while at home or in the office. Keep active socially with friends and family, even if it involves extra effort.”

With no treatment, symptoms usually will resolve on their own with the change of seasons. However, they will resolve more quickly with treatment, Downing said.

“Some people have SAD throughout their lives. People who have repeated seasonal depression should talk to their health care provider about prevention methods,” she said. “Starting treatment during the fall or early winter may be helpful, before the symptoms begin to manifest.”

Jones, who is not a medical doctor, said the use of light as part of treatment is common. Psychiatrists can prescribe anything from medication to other types of treatments.

“The use of light seems to decrease symptoms in people,” he said. “A high percentage improve by light therapy, but a lot of people don’t continue with it because you have to sit somewhere for 30 to 60 minutes. People with busy schedules can’t or don’t follow through. Some also look for medication — we make a referral to a psychiatrist to talk about medication.”

In addition to light therapy and antidepressants — cognitive behavioral therapy can also help. Behavioral therapy educates clients and identifies positive thought processes of thought. Jones calls it “restructuring what we think.”

Jones warned that just because someone ends up with low energy during the wintertime, that doesn’t indicate SAD. A true diagnosis would require a majority of the symptoms, and the disorder has to affect a person’s normal life, he said.

His recommendation for those questioning whether they suffer from SAD is to talk with a doctor, counselor or a psychiatrist who could give some guidance.

It is considered to be the most depressing time of the year and, apparently, there is even a special formula used to establish this depressing phenomenon.

For some of us, it could be the Christmas credit card bill landing on the door mat, New Year’s resolutions starting to waver, or the withdrawal of highly calorific food taking an emotional toll. But for many, the problem stems from something now medically recognised as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

Typical symptoms may include tiredness, difficulty waking up in the morning, general lack of energy, withdrawing socially, a pessimistic outlook on life, over-eating and a strong craving for carbohydrates, weight gain, a loss of libido and an all-round feeling of depression.

The shorter winter days seem to play a significant part in the problem.

It is thought that a lack of Vitamin D, which we normally get from sunlight, lowers our serotonin levels.

There is also a tendency to stay inside and avoid exercise during the cold winter months.

Physical activity is vital for our emotional wellbeing and can alleviate many symptoms of depression; a daily, brisk half-hour walk can make all the difference, even if it has to be in the evening, without day light.

What is important is the regular release of endorphins that will gradually begin to work their magic.

Additionally, Bright Light Therapy, otherwise known as light-box treatment, is reported as being very effective, with a high percentage of sufferers reporting total relief from their symptoms.

Light boxes are now widely available and often recommended as the first line of treatment for SAD.

Therapy intervention can also prove very helpful, one-to-one support helps to increase motivation and self-awareness – the key to keeping on top of the problem and preventing future episodes.

Many teens may not deal with it directly. There’s always something else to get in the way be it school work part–time jobs sports or hanging out with friends. But there’s always the misery of being cooped up inside. And as of late it’s been particularly miserable — the weather is bitterly cold and windy and there’s not even any snow to make up for it.

What to do?

“I just try and stay as warm as possible and avoid going outside because it’s freezing” Elizabethtown senior Caitlin Wilson said. “I have also been reading a lot of books.”

Many people are plagued by seasonal affective disorder also called winter blues or seasonal depression during this time of year. The U.S. National Library of Medicine has said that “some people experience a serious mood change when the seasons change. They may sleep too much have little energy and may also feel depressed. Though symptoms can be severe they usually clear up.”

Long discounted by skeptics seasonal affective disorder has now been diagnosed as a common mood disorder. It is a fact that mood and personality play a large role in identifying a patient with it. But would there be a biological factor in the disorder as well?

“Our levels of serotonin a mood–elevating chemical drop in the winter months causing us to feel down” telegraph.co.uk stated in an article. “Scientists from the Center for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto Canada have found that as the days become shorter we produce high levels of a protein which interferes with serotonin. The protein is a serotonin transporter which helps the “happy” chemical to flow around the brain. When this protein becomes more active in the winter it soaks up the serotonin that lies between our brain cells causing levels to fall.”

There are many treatments such as antidepressant medication and light therapy but those would be some of the more drastic measures. There are far more fun ways to combat the winter blues such as focusing on New Year’s resolutions relaxing with friends and family or even a teen favorite sleeping.

Elizabethtown Area High School senior Meghan Kreider prefers a similar option.

“I’ve been watching a lot of movies on my laptop. I won’t even get off of my futon” she said. “It’s sad but I live in my ‘man cave’ as I like to call it and stay under the covers.”

And good news for coffee lovers: Time Magazine states that “a recent analysis of data from the massive Nurses’ Health Study found that women who drank more than four cups of coffee a day had a 20 percent lower risk of depression than women who drank less. The research did not include men but there’s little reason to suspect a wildly different effect in them.”

Feelgooder.com offers meeting new people and socializing with old friends as good options to avoiding the doldrums of winter. Another way to beat the boredom suggested Elizabethtown junior Amanda Matta is trying different activities.

“I’ve been doing a lot of strange things I wouldn’t normally do” Matta said. “Like yesterday I came home from school baked chocolate chip cookies polished my riding boots then watched two hours of ‘Big Bang Theory.’ And ate a lot of cookies.”

So if the keys to happiness during the winter months can be obtained through activity exposure to bright lights socializing relaxing eating cookies and drinking coffee it would seem relatively simple to keep from falling into seasonal affective disorder. Personal motivation plays a key role and in the end it is all up to the individual.

Article is from the PennLive.com site. Read the article here.

Symptoms of SAD may consist of difficulty sleeping or difficulty waking up in the morning, lack of energy, difficulty concentrating, weight gain, irritability, and withdrawal from friends, family, and social activities; all of which can lead on to depression and a feeling of hopelessness. Here Dr Abbie Lane a consultant psychiatrist from the stress clinic based at Saint John of God Hospital, a leading provider of mental health services and treatments in Ireland, offers some advice on dealing with the disorder:

Keep busy and active: “If you experience some of the symptoms of SAD it is important to engage in pleasurable activities during the winter months. Develop a repertoire of wintertime leisure interests; join an exercise class, take a language course, volunteer locally or join a club.”

Use the daylight we do have: “Make sure to spend as much time outdoors during the daylight hours as possible. Make a habit of taking a 30 minute walk at lunch time and when indoors keep curtains open during the day and move furniture to position yourself near a window.”

Avoid temptations: “When at home resist sleeping too much and eating unhealthy junk food, these are temptations that accompany SAD that are not good for your long-term well-being. Try to keep to a daily routine, even at weekends, and be careful about how much alcohol you consume.”

Try mindfulness: “Use meditation to increase your awareness of negative thoughts. Focus on awareness techniques, such as deep breathing, to bring your attention back to the present. Gradually you will begin to observe your thought processes rather than reacting to it, relieving feelings of negativity.”

Use problem solving techniques: “If you feel worried or anxious during January create a list of problems, identify possible solutions, choose the best solutions, create a plan to implement them and then evaluate the outcomes with respect to the problem.”

Share your problems: “If you experience any of the symptoms of SAD confide in a friend or loved one. Talk to someone. If you are faced with persistent anxiety or low moods, severe sleep or appetite disturbance, a constant feeling of guilt, hopelessness or unworthiness then seek professional assistance.”

Remember there is hope: “No matter how bad things can appear, chart your progress in a small diary and each day look at three positive things about yourself and three positive things that you have done – and that can include getting out of bed.”

As the days get shorter and temperatures dip, some people experience the winter blues. During the winter, some people are vulnerable to depression, fatigue, an increased need for sleep, and difficulty concentrating. These are a few symptoms of winter SAD.

SAD is a form of major depression that occurs during fall and winter, when people react adversely to the decrease in sunlight and colder temperatures. SAD can also hit people during the spring and summer.

It can be difficult to diagnose SAD in children and teens, says Dr. J. David Bragg, program director for Clinical Mental Health Counseling at South University — Virginia Beach. SAD symptoms range from mild to severe depending on the child.

“As with all mood disorders, SAD is more difficult to diagnose in children because the pattern of symptomatology is different than in adults,” he says. “Depressed mood in children may be exemplified by irritability and fatigue.”

The normal fluctuations in mood seen in children may mask the presence of depression, Bragg says.

“The vagaries of childhood and adolescence with the attendant emotional upheaval tend to make many diagnoses difficult,” he says. “Some symptoms are misinterpreted as the onset of puberty.”

Symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder in Children and Teens

Dr. Norman E. Rosenthal, a SAD specialist and author, writes in his book “Winter Blues: Everything You Need to Know to Beat Seasonal Affective Disorder,” that SAD affects about 3% of children ages 9 to 17. He says problems with concentration, schoolwork, energy, and mood are often signs of SAD in young people.

Children and adolescents might feel bad, but don’t know why, Bragg says.

“They seem to be aware that something is amiss, but they may blame their feelings on external factors, for example, peers are being mean,” he says. “Secondary effects of SAD include a decline in academic achievement, loss of desire to take part in social activities and sports, memory impairment, lack of organization, and difficulty in writing, all of which affect self-concept and self-esteem.”

Other symptoms of winter SAD can include:

• Irritable mood
• Changes in appetite, or craving junk foods more than usual
• Insomnia or hypersomnia
• Throwing temper tantrums
• Not wanting to do chores they didn’t have a problem doing before
• Experiencing physical aliments, such as headaches or stomach pain

Treatment

According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, nearly 5% of children and adolescents in the general population suffer from depression at any given point in time. Early recognition and intervention by parents, teachers, and clinicians are essential in helping treat children and teens suffering from depression. For help, parents are advised to ask their physician to refer them to a qualified mental health professional who can diagnose and treat SAD in children and teenagers.

Light therapy is an effective method of treatment for SAD. A light therapy box mimics outdoor light and is believed to cause a chemical change in the brain that eases the symptoms of SAD. A light therapy box may be used on its own, or combined with other SAD treatments such as antidepressant medications or counseling.

“While light therapy is effective for SAD, other treatment options should be considered,” Bragg says. “The use of psychotropic medication and traditional psychotherapy should address the somatic and psychosocial issues prevalent in SAD.”

The KidsHealth website of children’s health organization Nemours is a source of information about the health, behavior, and development of children and teens. The site offers tips on how parents and caregivers can also help their children cope with SAD:

• Ask the doctor how to best help your child.
• Learn more about SAD and provide simple explanations to your child about the condition.
• Encourage your child to exercise and spend time outdoors. Parents should increase the amount of sunlight their children are exposed to whenever possible.
• Spend quality time with your child.
• Be patient and don’t expect symptoms to go away immediately.
• Help your child organize and complete their homework.
• Encourage your child to eat healthy and avoid junk food.
• Encourage your child to stick to a regular bedtime every day so they can get adequate rest.

A more recent study has found a connection between this type of depression and the pineal gland. The pineal gland is located in the middle of the brain. It responds to darkness by secreting melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone that helps regulate a person’s sleep and wake cycles. This hormone helps to reset your inner clock and manage your body’s daily rhythms.

The reduced daylight that comes during the winter season in the northeast seems to affect when your pineal gland releases melatonin. The time period between when your body releases melatonin can become longer or shorter than it is during the spring and summer months. As a result, your body’s rhythms become upset and misaligned. These daily rhythm mismatches may be a cause of SAD. For some, melatonin supplements at the right time of day have offered relief from the symptoms of SAD.

For others, antidepressants, light therapy, speaking with a counselor, or a combination of two or more of these treatments successfully relieves symptoms. Light therapy consists of regularly exposing yourself to a light source that emits wavelengths of light similar to that produced by the sun. The light is administered regularly for a certain amount of time and, in some cases, at a specific time of day. Light therapy also helps to reset your body’s essential rhythms, including your wake/sleep cycle.

People with SAD experience emotional and physical symptoms that may include: feeling sad, anxious or empty for most of the day, for more than two weeks; having no interest in activities or hobbies used to be enjoyable; feeling more irritable and getting frustrated more easily; feeling guilty, worthless, helpless, or overwhelmed often; having no energy most of the time; eating or sleeping more or less than usual; having trouble concentrating or making decisions; or having thought of suicide or hurting others.

If you are experiencing three or more of these symptoms or if your sad mood is interfering with your daily activities, you could be suffering from SAD or depression. Make an appointment to see your health care provider and share your symptoms.  SAD and depression are illnesses just like the flu or a sore throat. Getting help can make a big difference in how you feel both physically and emotionally. You’ll experience a better sense of well-being, no matter what the season.

For a lot of people, the holidays are a time of dread, so they are more prone to depression or even anxiety, says Howard Burley, medical director of the Tennessee Department of Mental Health.

There are a number of reasons this seasonal depression may occur, Burley says: personality type, financial stress or the physical demands of the season.

Some people have personalities that are more withdrawn, so they do not enjoy being in festive surroundings all the time, Burley says.

For a lot of people, the holidays also are a time of financial, physical or time stress.

The season can bring around memories of sadness for those who have lost somebody, Burley says.

The financial burden of meeting expectation of gifts for children and the physical demands of shopping, driving around town and enduring the cold also can trigger holiday blues.

Depending on the circumstances, the holiday blues are typically limited by time.

“As the holidays pass, it’s a sign of relief for them that it’s gone by,” he says. “Things get back to normal.”

For others, these situations could push them into real depression, Burley says.

“They might need treatment. Even after the holidays are gone, if you still have a feeling of sadness, other symptoms of depression, you should speak with your primary health care provider,” he says.

First, Burley says, a holiday blues sufferer should try to stay busy.

“Don’t stop doing things you typically do, like exercising,” he says. “Try not to engage in the overconsumption of alcohol, which can contribute. Try to stay active.”

When it comes to the financial aspect, Burley says to set reasonable expectations and a budget and stick to them. Do only what is physically possible without overdoing it. Don’t go to 50 places in one day, for example, he says.

If there is some kind conflict in the family, try to plan ahead and get some understanding in the family to make the holidays a happier time, Burley says.

“Be supportive,” he says. You don’t want to overwhelm the person, but be supportive.”