~ Wednesday, December 16, 1998 - North Shore News

Let the

‘Seasonal disorder

creates winter blues

THERE isn’t anyone in Canada who
doesn’t know how depressing it can
be to go to work in the morning in
the dark, and return home in the
evening, again in the dark.

For the close'to one million Canadians — the

majority of them women — who suffer from -

SAD (seasonal affective disorder} or its milder
form; sub-SAD, winter can be debilitating.
The terms sub-SAD and winter blues are
used by the medical community to describe the
symptoms associated -with winter. depression.
Symptoms typically occur during the dark sea-
son, from October through March.
During the, winter, changes in’ weather,

including reduced light, affect the balance of

_brain chemicals being released, which.can affect
mood, sleep and appetite.
“Research has found that sub-SAD most fre-
quently affects women ‘in their late 20s to mid
~40s, and women are twice as likely than men to
sufter from this condition,” said Dr. Anthony
Levitt, head of the Mood Disorders Prégram at
Sunnybrook and Women’s College Health
Sciences Centre in Toronto.
Research shows that light. has a biological

effect on brain hormones and function. Light.

._ therapy involves a biological trigger that “resets”
» the bady’s internal clock by exposure to intense
levels of light under controlled conditions.
=o The required effect is gencrally achieved in
30 hhinutes to two hours,” depending o on the

light shine in

intensity of light.

Dr. Levitt offers the following tips for com:
bating the winter blues:
@ nasimize exposure to sunlight. ‘Even on an
overcast day, sufferers will benetit_ from: being
outdoors;
Brun, walk, hike. Exercise is crucial to improv-
ing one’s physi sical and mental well-being:
W cat lots of spagheui. A nutrient called 1 “typ.
tophan, responsible for Producing. serotonin,
may have a positive effect on SAD and sub- SAD
sufferers. L-tryptophan is tound in dairy prod-
ucts, and its absorption is increased by high-car-
hohydrate foods, such as pasta;
B live as stress-free a fife as possible. Being over
worked and “stressed out” takes its toll on the
body, often resulting in’ sleepless: nights and
thus, excessive fatigue;
B distract yourself and avoid being alone for
long periods of time. People who suffer fram
SAD tend to get fixated on their condition;
Merv light therapy. Studies have found that light
therapy is an effective treatment in minimizing
the symptoms of SAD and sub-SAD;
® talk about it. People who suffer trom SAD
often keep feelings and symptoms to themselves,
affecting their personal relationships.

B get away. Sufferers should take a winter vaca-

tion to a sunny destination if possible;
@ plan ahead. Eating properly is crucial to those
that suffer from the winter blues. Cook meals
during the summer, when fresh fruits and veg-
ctables are plentiful, and freeze them;
@ put on a’sweater, Many SAD-and sub-SAD

- sufferers respond positively to warmer tempera-

tures, and may feel better if they dress warmly;
B move. If the disorder is that severe, consider

“moving to a location closer to the equator.

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