www.womanthismonth.com 41 January 2013 | The New Year can be tough for many of us. It marks the start of another 12-month cycle; the thought of which can be a hard pill to swallow. The days seem longer thanks to dark afternoons, we’re all carrying a little bit too much festive weight and the next holiday seems light-years away. So it’s understandable that many people don’t consider themselves happy during January. Often being unhappy is misconstrued as feeling sad, lonely and possibly even suicidal, but what about just feeling ‘blah’ and unmoved by the world? However, there is a large amount of evidence from psychologists about a disorder that explains this gloomy mood that occurs during the winter months, called Seasonal Affective Disorder (aptly abbreviated to SAD). The experts believe this illness to be spurred primarily by insufficient exposure to sunlight, which has been linked to carbohydrate craving, weight gain and sleep disturbance – sound familiar? The cause Our expert: Dr Waiel Alani, consultant psychiatrist at Bahrain Specialist Hospital. SAD is a type of depression that affects a person during the same season each year. There is no definite cause for winter blues but SAD is a possible theory. “It is a type of depression that affects a person during the same season each year,” says the doctor. “If you feel low in the winter, but much better in spring and summer then you should get tested for the illness.” Experts suggested a possible theory depends on a lack of sunlight. “Sunlight determines the amount of serotonin the body produces and it is the brain chemical that regulates the body’s circadian rhythm,” outlines Dr Waiel. “On the other hand, the brain often gets out of sync with the sun because of winter’s shortened days. There is more of the melatonin hormone that is usually secreted at night. This can affect the sleep/wake cycle and other rhythms that make people unhappy, tired and in low spirits.” Who does it affect? Those who live in areas where the winter days are short are more prone to displaying signs of SAD; however, there are many other types of people who are susceptible to it. “Studies have shown that the disorder occurs in females more than males and in those aged between 15 and 55 years,” explains Dr Waiel. “Furthermore, if a family member has been diagnosed with SAD, your chances of having it are increased.” The symptoms Our expert: Dr Mona El Gezery, consultant psychiatrist at American Mission Hospital. Most people get unhappy moments due to circumstantial reasons, or sad events, yet they cope with their sadness and eventually snap out of it. “Depression on the other hand is an illness with specific symptoms and signs that break the patient’s will, needing treatment in most cases,” explains Dr Mona. There are a number of identifiable symptoms that present themselves when a person is suffering from SAD. “These may include a consistent difficulty to wake up in the morning, morning sickness and a tendency to oversleep,” the doctor lists. “People with SAD also tend to crave carbohydrates, which can lead to significant weight gain. Other symptoms include a lack of energy, difficulty concentrating on or completing tasks and withdrawal from friends, family and social activities. Some patients also experience a decreased sex drive.” The personality of a patient with the disorder will also alter and he/she may become irritated very quickly.
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