Old Man Winter Giving You the Blues? Don't Be S.A.D.

By Wendy Ann Mitchell (Patch Staff)

The colder winter months force Marylanders indoors for extended periods of time, which can lead to depression.

Some people can feel tired, anxious and moody as the long winter season drags on. But how can you tell if what you are experiencing is just cabin fever or something else? It could be Seasonal Affective Disorder.

According to Medline Plus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.) is a type of depression that happens during the winter when people do not get much sunlight.

Millions of Americans suffer from S.A.D., according to Mary Jane Maser, Ph.D., Clinical Director of Stepping Stones Intensive Outpatient Program at Barnabas Health Behavioral Health Center. Symptoms include “feelings of sadness, loneliness, altered sleeping and eating patterns, negative thoughts and feelings of guilt, lethargy and disturbed sleep patterns; overeating and developing a craving for carbohydrates and sweet foods; difficulty with concentration and memory; and social problems such as finding it difficult to be around others,” NJ.com reports.

Info Barrel lists celebrities who suffer from the disorder:

• Natalie Imbruglia, an Australian singer famous for the song ‘Torn’
• Rosie O’Donnell, an actress and talk show host
• Barbare Hambly, a science fiction writer
• Jillian Barberie/Reynols, a Canadian actress and TV host

Comedian Patton Oswalt, famous for his role as ”Spence” on “King of Queens,” also suffers from the disorder. He wrote the following message on his Facebook page for all those who suffer from S.A.D.:

“To all my fellow depressives, getting hit hard by the suddenly shorter, colder days? I’m with you. I’m on an unshakeable schedule when it comes to Seasonal Activated Depression. Please don’t forget, these next few months, until the spring kicks in and we can all start skateboarding on the serotonin rainbow of summer -- you CAN get through this. One way is to go regularly help someone else. In a big or small way. Talk to someone regularly, or bring someone food or just your company.”

What can you do if you feel you might have Seasonal Affective Disorder? Dr. J. Blake Casher, a board-certified psychiatrist and Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Michigan State University, prescribes a special type of light therapy that has a specific brightness of 10,000 lux. This tricks the brain into feeling the effects of natural sunlight when it is lacking during winter months. More severe cases of S.A.D. may require a prescription of anti-depressants such as Prozac, Zoloft or Lexapro.

To find a Maryland doctor who treats S.A.D. in your area, click here.

-- Photo: Flickr Creative Commons

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