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Chronic Depression
Over 10.9 million Americans over the age of 18 suffer from Chronic Depression. It is less severe than major depression, and very treatable. Individuals, suffering from Chronic Depression, often suffer from feelings of helplessness, hopelessness and worthlessness. Many Chronically depressed individuals, suffer from sleep disorders like insomnia and experience changes in appetite. They may also display symptoms of noticeable mental and physical sluggishness and fatigue.
Depression, Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D)
Unlike chronic forms of depression, seasonal depression usually occurs in the darker wintery months. Conservatively speaking, about 9.9 million people in North America suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.). Some individuals refer to mild cases of S.A.D. as the “winter blues” or the “doldrums”, but it is really much more. S.A.D. is a recurrent depression that occurs in the Fall and Winter months. It affects an individual’s sleep patterns, mood and general well-being. Like Chronic Depression, S.A.D.can lead to sleep disorders, changes in appetite and decreases in energy.
How Light Therapy Can Improve your Mood
Light Therapy is a natural and safe tool used to combat Seasonal Affective Disorder. Some doctors prescribe the use of light therapy in combination with medicine. Others utilize light therapy in lieu of medication for mild occurrences of S.A.D., P.M.S, and sleep disorders and more.
The benefits of light therapy include an increase in energy, elevation of mood and improved sleep. Light Therapy involves regular scheduled exposure to artificial light to help regulate mood swings, sleep and a general sense of well-being. Researchers postulate that bright light works to increase levels of serotonin-a chemical that positively affects moods. Serotonin levels decrease in fall and winter months. Safe light therapy intervenes to counteract serotonin level decreases.
Medical experts recommend 20-30 minutes of exposure per day of special fluorescent light in a starting dose of 10,000 Lux. Lux is a unit of measuring illumination intensity of light. Most experts feel that these high light intensity levels are required to produce the desired therapeutic results. They also advise against concocting a self-made light apparatus to insure that light rays are properly administered with the added bonus of avoiding costly electrical hazards.
Light Therapy has proven therapeutic effects. As, always consult discuss all treatments with a physician. Information contained herein is for reference purposes only. To learn more about depression or Seasonal Affective Disorder, consult a physician or a trained medical profession. Seasonal Depression and Chronic Depression should be carefully monitored, and may require several forms of treatment and intervention.
Two excellent studies on Seasonal Affective Disorder are;
1)Winter Blues: Seasonal Affective Disorder: What it is and How To Overcome It by Norman E. Rosenthal, Guildford Press, New York, 1998
2) Seasonal Affective Disorder and Beyond: Light Treatment for SAD and Non-SAD Conditions: by Raymond W. Lam, Editor, American Psychiatric Press, Washington D.D., 1998
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