Suffering with SAD? End seasonal depression with light therapy

Seasonal Affective Disorder can be life-changing for sufferers

THE clocks are set to go back this weekend which means, for most, getting up in the dark and coming home from work in the dark.

 

Seasonal Affective Disorder is a type of depression that strikes when the seasons change - it's most commonly associated with the clocks going back and the country being plunged into darkness. 

Symptoms of SAD can include despair, guilt and worthlessness - all of which are unpleasant. But there is an answer: Lumie light therapy. 

 

Circadian clock expert Dr Victoria Revell at Surrey University explained how it can help: "A brightly lit environment has been shown to stimulate your brain resulting in an increase in mood and alertness. 

"Also, a lot of people in winter, because they’re not getting that early morning light cue, drift later in time making it harder for them to get up and get going and that obviously has a knock on effect."

She added: "You can use early morning light or a dawn simulator to shift your body clock back and keep it synchronised so you find it easier to wake and get up in the mornings."

 



SAD can strike at any time making it difficult to wake up during the day



SAD is a serious condition, often leaving those with the condition feeling helpless and struggling to function normally. 

There's also such a thing as the 'winter blues' which can affect anyone feeling a bit low because of the weather, temperature and change of the clocks. 

In fact, light therapy specialists Lumie claim a whopping 24 per cent of us are affected by the time change and call it the winter blues. Seven per cent of those are diagnosed with SAD. 

 

Lumie lights can stop crippling winter depression

This Sunday we're set to gain an hour’s sleep as the clocks go back by an hour. While we initially benefit from lighter mornings, soon the struggle to wake up - and the days getting gradually shorter - takes its toll.

The dark winter evenings further impact on our internal body clocks to the point where about a quarter of us experience the winter blues.

London-based IT consultant Jenny Scott Thompson falls into the seven per cent who suffer with SAD. 

But it took six years of crippling winter depression before her GP finally diagnosed her condition and prescribed light therapy and winter sun holidays.