Seasonal affective disorder 'may be a myth', study argues
Conclusion
This cross-sectional study investigated whether season, latitude and sunlight exposure are linked to depressive symptoms that can be experienced in SAD.
The researchers found these factors had no effect on the occurrence of depressive symptoms.
However, this study has a number of important limitations. Depression was not a clinical diagnosis – it was based on the participant's response to a questionnaire over the phone.
This presents problems, as some people may not have answered questions truthfully, and those with depression or SAD may not have answered the phone.
The Royal College of Psychiatrists sa...
Source: NHS News Feed - January 22, 2016 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Mental health Source Type: news
Stop blaming SAD for your bad mood - it doesn't exist!
Auburn University scientists analyzed data on depression, geographic location, weather and sunlight exposure - and concluded seasonal affective disorder is not a psychiatric disorder. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
Source: the Mail online | Health - January 21, 2016 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Resisting SADness
This article looks at interventions that are helpful for those suffering wintertime SAD.
If the darker days put you into a darker mood, there are several interrelated things you can do to help yourself:
Bundle up and go outside.
Yes, go outside where it may be cold and windy. There are a number of studies that show that an hour a day of exposure to the sun’s rays do much to reduce the symptoms of SAD. Why? Because exposure to sunlight helps your body regulate the production of melatonin, the hormone that helps people sleep. More melatonin is produced when there is less sun, making you sleepy. More sun can result in more...
Source: Psych Central - January 19, 2016 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Marie Hartwell-Walker, Ed.D. Tags: Cognitive-Behavioral Depression Diet & Nutrition Disorders General Healthy Living Psychology Psychotherapy Seasonal Affective Disorder Self-Help Sleep Bipolar Disorder Caffeine Circadian rhythm Circadian Rhythms Hypomania I Source Type: news
10 Tips to Get the Most Out of Light Therapy
Embed from Getty Images It's not just the cold weather that is making you sluggish and want to hunker down at home on the couch with your best friend Netflix. Shorter days from early fall through winter can cause even your serotonin to hibernate in your neurons. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that occurs in the fall to winter. People with winter blues feel tired, less motivated, sad, and sleep more than usual. You're more at risk for the winter blues if you're a woman, younger, live further from the equator, or have family members who have depression or a mood disorder. People with seasonal de...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - January 17, 2016 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
What to do if you have Seasonal Affective...
This article reviews some options of what to do for people with Seasonal Affective Disorder. (Source: About.com Mental Health)
Source: About.com Mental Health - January 15, 2016 Category: Psychiatry Tags: health Source Type: news
This Is What The Holiday Season Does To Your Brain
It turns out that there's a whole network in our brains devoted to the Christmas spirit. Scientists at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark accidentally found evidence of the network when they were conducting migraine research and noticed that several regions of the brain activate when healthy people view warm and fuzzy Christmas-themed photos. They published their finding in the British Medical Journal on Dec. 16. "We found the findings very interesting," Dr. Bryan Haddock, a medical physicist at the university and a co-author of the study, told The Huffington Post. The network includes the occipital lobe, which is ass...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - December 24, 2015 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
This Is What The Holiday Season Does To Your Brain
It turns out that there's a whole network in our brains devoted to the Christmas spirit. Scientists at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark accidentally found evidence of the network when they were conducting migraine research and noticed that several regions of the brain activate when healthy people view warm and fuzzy Christmas-themed photos. They published their finding in the British Medical Journal on Dec. 16. "We found the findings very interesting," Dr. Bryan Haddock, a medical physicist at the university and a co-author of the study, told The Huffington Post. The network includes the occipital lobe, which is ass...
Source: Science - The Huffington Post - December 24, 2015 Category: Science Source Type: news
Weird Ways to Cope With Winter
Winter can be a cruel time for many. With so many holidays, it's one of the busiest and most enjoyable times of the year, but the cold weather and long nights can lead to all kinds of mental and physical health issues. That's why it's important to pay extra attention to your health over winter -- after all, you wouldn't want anything spoiling the fun. Outside of the obvious tips like wrapping up warm and wearing sensible shoes, there are some lesser known winter health hacks that can really make the difference. Though it's easy to oversleep in winter, it isn't recommended. Image by Only Sequel. Try Not to Oversleep W...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - December 23, 2015 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
8 Fascinating Things We Learned About Sleep In 2015
Arianna Huffington has shared the big idea that she thinks will define 2016 -- and it's probably not what you would expect. "Sleep. That's right, sleep!" Huffington wrote in a Dec. 16 blog post. "How much and how well we sleep in the coming year -- and the years to follow -- will determine, in no small measure, our ability to address and solve the problems we're facing as individuals and as a society." As more individuals wake up to the importance of sleep, scientists are continuing to learn more about the mechanics of sleep and the necessity of a good night's rest for physical and mental health, productiv...
Source: Science - The Huffington Post - December 22, 2015 Category: Science Source Type: news
Seasonal affective disorder: More than just the winter blues (video)
(American Chemical Society) As the days get shorter, darker and colder, people seem to be getting gloomier. For some folks with seasonal affective disorder, the changing seasons can make them sadder than most, to the point of depression. Why does this happen? Are there effective treatments? Reactions has the chemistry to explain this disorder and some possible treatments. Check it out here: https://youtu.be/lld7lFZm-m0. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - December 22, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news
Seasonal affective disorder infographic reveals how fatigue and sex drive could be a sign
The infographic reveals the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder, which affects 10 million Americans, include fatigue, a loss of sex drive, poor sleep, depression and crying spells. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
Source: the Mail online | Health - December 16, 2015 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
WATCH: 6 Ways To Beat The Winter Blues
(function(){var src_url="https://spshared.5min.com/Scripts/PlayerSeed.js?playList=519319034&height=&width=100&sid=577&origin=undefined&videoGroupID=155847&relatedNumOfResults=100&responsive=true&ratio=wide&align=center&relatedMode=2&relatedBottomHeight=60&companionPos=&hasCompanion=false&autoStart=true&colorPallet=%23FFEB00&videoControlDisplayColor=%23191919&shuffle=0&isAP=1&pgType=cmsPlugin&pgTypeId=addToPost-top&onVideoDataLoaded=track5min.DL&onTimeUpdate=track5min.TC&onVideoDataLoaded=HPTrack.Vid.DL&onTimeUpdate=HPTrack.Vid.TC";if (typeof(commercial_video) == "object") {src_url += "&siteSection="+commercial_...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - December 9, 2015 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Medical News Today: Seasonal affective disorder: could you spot the signs?
Seasonal affective disorder most commonly strikes in winter. But experts say many people do not know they have it and doctors need better information to diagnose it. (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - December 3, 2015 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Depression Source Type: news
Your 'Holiday Blues' May Not Be About The Holidays At All
With Thanksgiving behind us, it's officially the season of holiday cheer -- but not for everyone. For many people, the month of December and the onslaught of festivities leaves them stressed, anxious and sad.
The winter blues are a relatively common phenomenon but, in some cases, what seems like a festive slump may be something more.
Those feelings that you shrug off as the "winter blues" could be a case of Seasonal Affective Disorder, according to New York City psychiatrist Dr. Jason Hershberger. SAD, as it's called, is a mood disorder characterized by depressive symptoms reoccurring seasonally during the fall and w...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - December 2, 2015 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
What Psychologists Want You To Know About The Holiday Blues
Holiday blues can make some people dread the season, starting with Turkey Day and continuing through the new year. Other people drag through the winter months, including the holidays, with seasonal affective disorder (SAD) that can occur as your body responds to fewer daylight hours. But there are things you can do to combat winter sadness. To help keep your spirits up during the dark, cold months, we asked what mental health professionals want you to know about being blue this time of year — and what you can do to lift your mood. Holiday Blues and SAD: Two Different Conditions Feeling down over the w...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - December 1, 2015 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
