What are the Treatments for Sad

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a form of depression where one is affected only during a particular time of the year. This is the reason that it is given the name Seasonal Affective Disorder. People living in areas away from the equator where there is a distinct difference between the lengths of day and night are more likely to have SAD. The percentage of women having SAD is more than men. Other than that, SAD can also be hereditary - that is someone with a close relative having SAD could be likely to have SAD.

Experts are of the view that SAD may be caused due to a lack of sunlight. SAD also causes problem with serotonin, the brain chemical that affects a person’s moods. Some of the symptoms of SAD include moodiness, increased or decreased sleep, weight gain, drowsiness, depression and lack of interest in routine activities. As daylight decreases, the sufferer of SAD may experience bad moods and depression.

The treatments used with SAD do not cure it completely. However, these treatments diminish the symptoms of the disorder to a great extent. SAD is treated in several different ways, but the one that is most commonly used and is believed to be effective is Light Therapy.  Bright Light Therapy is the first treatment most doctors recommend to SAD patients. During this treatment, the patient is required to sit in front of a light box that acts as an artificial source of light. This practice has to be repeated for a certain period of time every day, and sometimes even more than once a day. This therapy is useful because in winter it is not possible to expose oneself to natural light very much. So the light box provides artificial light.

Light Boxes are rated using the unit ‘lux’, which represents the intensity of the light that the light box produces. The light boxes most widely used by the public have a rating of 10,000 lux. Light Boxes may seem a little expensive at the time of buying, but they are worth purchasing, and are a one-time expense. A single box can be used for many years and one only has to change the bulbs when needed.

Another treatment used for SAD is Dawn Simulation, in which a device is placed beside you and light instead of an alarm sound is used to wake you up. The intensity of light with this treatment is much lower than light boxes. The intensity ranges between 100 and 1700 lux.

During SAD treatments, it can be helpful to take Vitamin D3 supplements because it is believed that the deficiency of Vitamin D (usually caused by lack of exposure to the sun) has a marked affect on the mood and in increasing depression.

Research shows that the people who have SAD also have imbalanced melatonin levels which can disrupt their sleep cycles. In order to balance the activity of this hormone, tablets can be used. Other than these treatments, counselling is also useful because it helps with the cognitive and behavioural activity of the sufferer. In some cases, doctors also prescribe anti-depressants to the people having SAD.