Seasonal Affective Disorder
By: Adam Bartelmay
Updated: November 8, 2012
JOPLIN, MO.--- Winter and gloomier days are right around the
corner. That can leave some of us feeling a little down in the dumps.
"low energy, lack of motivation. They might stop enjoying things that they normally enjoy. They kind of drop out of activities," states Dr. Tamon Paige, Mercy Joplin Psychiatrist.
If that describes what you're going through, you may have a condition known as seasonal affective disorder or "sad". Doctor Tamon Paige is a psychiatrist with Mercy Hospital Joplin.
"About 1%of people get seasonal depression," states Paige.
He says one in every 20 people will experience at least some symptoms of sad and it usually starts in November and lasts until Spring.
"People get more irritable.They sleep more. They eat more. They kind of crave sweets, carbohydrates more," states Paige.
The obvious result of that is weight gain. So getting more exercise will help keep the pounds off and improve your mood.
"Walking 20 minutes a day counts. So, that's easy to do," says Paige.
Light therapy is also a treatment that's recommended, but it could take a big bite of time out of your daily routine.
"To do it correctly, you have to sit in front of the box for about 45 minutes a day," states Paige.
Another answer is to turn to prescription drugs to get you through the worst of it.
"You can take anti-depressants.You can do counseling," states Paige.
You can always try the typical clinical treatments with prescription drugs or even light therapy. There's another route you can take and that's with natural supplements.
"Virtually no side effects or much, much less side effects," states Suzanne Nelson, Owner Suzanne's Natural Foods.
Suzanne Nelson, Owner of Suzanne's Natural Foods in Joplin, says there are many natural treatments people can try to chase seasonal depression away.
"low energy, lack of motivation. They might stop enjoying things that they normally enjoy. They kind of drop out of activities," states Dr. Tamon Paige, Mercy Joplin Psychiatrist.
If that describes what you're going through, you may have a condition known as seasonal affective disorder or "sad". Doctor Tamon Paige is a psychiatrist with Mercy Hospital Joplin.
"About 1%of people get seasonal depression," states Paige.
He says one in every 20 people will experience at least some symptoms of sad and it usually starts in November and lasts until Spring.
"People get more irritable.They sleep more. They eat more. They kind of crave sweets, carbohydrates more," states Paige.
The obvious result of that is weight gain. So getting more exercise will help keep the pounds off and improve your mood.
"Walking 20 minutes a day counts. So, that's easy to do," says Paige.
Light therapy is also a treatment that's recommended, but it could take a big bite of time out of your daily routine.
"To do it correctly, you have to sit in front of the box for about 45 minutes a day," states Paige.
Another answer is to turn to prescription drugs to get you through the worst of it.
"You can take anti-depressants.You can do counseling," states Paige.
You can always try the typical clinical treatments with prescription drugs or even light therapy. There's another route you can take and that's with natural supplements.
"Virtually no side effects or much, much less side effects," states Suzanne Nelson, Owner Suzanne's Natural Foods.
Suzanne Nelson, Owner of Suzanne's Natural Foods in Joplin, says there are many natural treatments people can try to chase seasonal depression away.
"St.John's, Wort, Altiricine, Ashwahganda is an herb that's also used for feeling better," states Nelson.
Some of these supplements are said to help increase seratonin,
which is a hormone we naturally produce. It's known as the "feel good"
hormone.
"We do have formulas that will have several. So, you could take a formula that does have a combination," states Nelson.
There are also some foods you can try to curb your craving for fattening foods.
"Like maybe keeping some nut butters in your refrigerator.Yogurt.
Some healthy dairy products. And then, when you do have a meal, have a
healthy meat whether it be fish or chicken or beef," says Nelson.
Whether you get clinical treatment or seek a natural solution, Doctor Paige says dealing with sad lies within you.
"The more they force themselves to be active, around people,
exercising, being more spiritual, that can kind of feed on itself,
too.They start walking, they feel more like walking, they kind of get
more energy and it kind of feeds on itself," states Dr. Paige.
If you find yourself feeling a little blue this time of year,
the best advice is to consult a health professional to make sure you
don't have a more serious condition. For more information about seasonal affective disorder, Click here.
