SAD - Seasonal Affective Disorder
Seasonal Affective Disorder may start at any age. However, the main age where it begins is between 18 and 30 years old. During long winter days, most sufferers show signs of low immune system and become prone to more illnesses and infections.
What is SAD?
Seasonal Affective Disorder commonly known as SAD is a type of winter depression that affects approximately 7 % of the UK population during autumn and winter as the days become shorter and sunlight becomes scarce. SAD can be felt via different symptoms including excessive tiredness, carbohydrate cravings, weight gain, a loss of libido (sex drive), depressed mood, lack of concentration, and social withdrawal. This disorder is very often recurrent every winter.
For many sufferers, seasonal affective disorder is a true disturbance to their daily lives to the point of preventing them to lead a normal life. For non-acute sufferers, the conditions are mild but do cause discomfort in their everyday activities. This is called sub-syndrome SAD and it affects around 17% of the UK population.
Causes of SAD
Evidence has shown the absence of sunlight affects the seasonal activities of animals (i.e., reproductive cycles and hibernation). SAD may be an effect of this seasonal light variation in humans. As seasons change, there is a shift in our “biological internal clocks” or circadian rhythm, due partly to the changes in sunlight patterns.
Melatonin, a sleep-related hormone secreted by the pineal gland in the brain, has been associated with Seasonal Affective Disorder. This hormone, which may cause symptoms of depression, is produced at an increase level in the dark. Therefore, when the days are shorter and darker the production of this hormone increases considerably causing our biological clocks to be disrupted.
What are the symptoms of SAD?
Depression
- A feeling of helplessness and despair
- Low mood
- Dark thoughts and very negative attitude
- Loss of self-esteem
- Feeling of apathy and despair
Lethargy
- Feeling extremely tired (Fatigue) making normal activities to be extremely difficult to be carried on.
Sleep Disorders
- Always a need to sleep more
- A high tendency to oversleep
- Staying awake during the day is a hurdle
- Disturbed sleep and very often sufferers tend to wake up early
Over-eating
- A strong crave for carbohydrates and sweet food often causing an increase in weight
Lack of concentration
- Difficulty in concentrating and memorising
- The brain does not work well and as quickly as it should do.
Social Problems
- A feel of anxiousness which does not stop.
- Stress becomes harder to deal with.
Loss of Libido
- A low level of sex drive
Associated Diagnosis
- Panic Disorders
- Social Phobia
- Bulimia Nervosa
- Premenstrual Syndrome
- Attention deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder
Treatment of Seasonal Affective Disorder
SAD Light therapy is one of the best treatments (Seasonal affective disorder). Exposure to very bright light up to four hours per day (average 1-2 hours) suppresses the brain’s secretion of melatonin and hence decreasing the symptoms of SAD. Light from an ordinary light bulb (200-500 Lux) is not sufficient. However, light emitted from a specially designed Light box at an intensity of 10000 Lux has been found to be effective in up to 85% of diagnosed cases. Using a Light box and products emitting has been highly advised to combat SAD and bid farewell to all those symptoms associated with Seasonal Affective Disorder.
It is advised to make use of light therapy as soon as the first symptoms appear in early autumn and every day in the winter. The treatment is very simple and consists of sitting certain distances away from the light box (depending on its intensity) and allowing the light to shine directly through the eyes. Any device or tinted lenses should not be worn as they would block the light from reaching the retina of the eye. When taking the treatment, it is not necessary to look directly at the light box. The user can carry on with activities like reading, knitting, working, eating, etc. Light boxes are free of VAT when used for medical purposes.
SAD Light therapy is a life changing treatment and will brighten your long winter days and most importantly will free you from all those symptoms disturbing our lifestyle. Light boxes are indeed one of the best “PureLifestyleWonders”.
SAD Light Box - Beurer TL50 Compact Daylight Lamp
Your winter depression will be over with the Beurer TL50 Compact Daylight Lamp. This sad light box can effectively stimulate the day light, which will help to combat Seasonal Affective Disorder. Winte..
£74.99
SAD Light Box - Innolux Aurora with Dimmer - 2 Year Warranty
The Aurora Innosol Bright Light Therapy lamp with dimmer is the perfect lamp to brighten your life! Get rid of winter doldrums and feelings of depression with our Aurora lamp. This award winning SAD l..
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SAD Light Box - Mesa 160 Innolux - 2 Year Warranty
SAD Light Box- Mesa is a very stylish and efficient SAD light lamp. Get a heavenly glow of light and feel instantly uplifted with this wonderful lightbox! The Mesa Lightbox Device can provide over 10 ..
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SAD Light Box - i- Lite SRS300 Sunrise Systems
The SAD Light Box SRS300 i-light combines British style and design along with the 10,000LUX emitting light, designed for use during natural low light levels throughout the year to assist the symptoms ..
£54.99
SAD Light Box - Innolux Aurea with Dimmer - 2 Year Warranty
Bright Light Therapy Device- Aurea is a beautiful creation of the Designer Martti Jännes. This SAD Device is a very convenient way to get your bright light treatment done. It can be used for both home..
£149.00
SAD Light Box - Innolux Candeo (BLACK) 2 Year Warranty
Bright Light Therapy Device- Candeo (BLACK) is another interesting lightbox created by the famous designer, Katriina Nuutinen. This pendent lamp is aesthetically pleasant and also provides enough ligh..
£189.00
SAD Light Box - Innolux Candeo (GREY) - 2 Year Warranty
Bright Light Therapy Device- Candeo (GREY) is another interesting lightbox created by the famous designer, Katriina Nuutinen. This pendent lamp is aesthetically pleasant and also provides enough light..
£189.00
SAD Light Box - Innolux Candeo (RED) - 2 Year Warranty
Bright Light Therapy Device- Candeo (RED) is another interesting lightbox created by the famous designer, Katriina Nuutinen. This pendent lamp is aesthetically pleasant and also provides enough light ..
£189.00
SAD Light Box - Innolux Candeo (White) - 2 Year Warranty
Bright Light Therapy Device- Candeo (WHITE) is another interesting lightbox created by the famous designer, Katriina Nuutinen. This pendent lamp is aesthetically pleasant and also provides enough ligh..
£189.00
SAD Light Box - Innolux Candeo Air White - 2 Year Warranty
The Candeo Air- White is an innovative bright light therapy device that can also be used as a pendant lamp. It is a flat LED version of the orginal Candeo SAD light device. It is a very powerful devic..
£340.00
SAD Light Box - Innolux Candeo Air- Graphite Grey - 2 Year Warranty
The Candeo Air- Graphite Grey is an innovative bright light therapy device that can also be used as a pendant lamp. It is a flat LED version of the orginal Candeo SAD light device. It is a very powerf..
£340.00
SAD Light Box - Innolux Kubo with Dimmer- 2 Year Warranty
Functional & Trendy, the Kubo light box is one of its kind. Winner of the Red Dot Design Award in 2010, this sad light box will impress and get rid of your winter depression at the same time. Desi..
£310.00
SAD Light Box - Innolux Lucia 2×55 - 2 Year Warranty
SAD Light – Lucia is a very versatile SAD light therapy device which can either be mounted on the wall or simply be placed on the table. Extremely stylish with its slightly curved rectangular sh..
£209.00
SAD Light Box - Innolux Mesa Mega 160 Bright - 2 Year Warranty
Make your winter blues a distant memory with this powerful Bright Light therapy unit! With a sleek design, this lamp will be perfect as a breath taking indoor lighting accessory. Hence, while be..
£309.99