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As discussed on our home page SAD can affect people in differing ways and it may often be difficult to actually determine if an individual is suffering from SAD, particularly when a mild form may exist. Some of the generic symptoms that may be present include the following;
- Irritability
- Dips in energy levels
- Depression
- Sleeping problems
- Anxiety
- Reduction in sexual libido
- Frequent mood swings
- Food cravings, particularly for sweets and carbohydrates.
In terms of therapy available there are three common types; Psychotherapy/counseling, antidepressant drugs and light therapy. The following brief has been taken from the SAD Association to provide you with an overview of each of the alternatives:
Light therapy has been proved effective in up to 85 per cent of diagnosed cases. That is, exposure, for up to four hours per day (average 1-2 hours) to very bright light, at least ten times the intensity of ordinary domestic lighting. Ordinary light bulbs and fittings are not strong enough. Average domestic or office lighting emits an intensity of 200-500 lux but the minimum dose, necessary to treat SAD is 2500 lux. The intensity of a bright summer day can be 100,000 lux. Light treatment should be used daily in Winter (and dull periods in summer) starting in early Autumn when the first symptoms appear. It consists of sitting two to three feet away from a specially designed light box, usually on a table, allowing the light to shine directly through the eyes.
The user can carry out a normal activity such as reading, working, eating and knitting while stationary in front of the box. It is not necessary to stare at the light although it has been proved safe. Treatment is usually effective within three or four days and the effect continues provided it is used every day. Tinted lenses, or any device that blocks the light to the retina of the eye, should not be worn.
Some light boxes emit higher intensity of light, up to 10,000 lux, which can cut treatment time down to half an hour a day. Light boxes are not available on the NHS and have to be bought from specialist retailers; they are now free of VAT and start at less than £100.
Traditional antidepressant drugs such as tricyclics are not usually helpful for SAD as they exacerbate the sleepiness and lethargy that are symptoms of the illness. The non-sedative SSRI drugs such as sertraline (Lustral), paroxetine (Seroxat) and fluoxetine (Prozac) are effective in alleviating the depressive symptoms of SAD and combine well with light therapy. Other psychotropic drugs e.g. lithium, benzodiazepines have not proved widely useful in the treatment of SAD. Daily exposure to as much natural daylight as possible, especially at midday, should help.
Psychotherapy, counselling or any complementary therapy which helps the sufferer to relax, accept their illness and cope with its limitations are extremely useful as well.
(SAD Association, 2005)
Light therapy aids is associated with SAD which can cause severe depression where an individual cannot operate a normal functional life. Light therapy symptoms are depression, sleeping problems, Anxiety, frequent mood swings, food cravings and dips in energy levels.