How to Cope With SAD

Feeling sad is one thing, but suffering with SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) is another. This seasonal disorder affects more people than you would think; around 2 million people are sufferers in the UK, and more than 12 million across Northern Europe. Typically SAD affects most of its sufferers during winter when sunlight hours decrease, this means that the production of certain hormone chemicals such as melatonin and serotonin are altered and so, therefore, is your mood. It can also cause physical symptoms such as acne and increased tiredness. SAD can affect many people in the summer too, for those that do not like the oppressive heat of some summer days, or have body issues that cause them to feel anxious dressing for the higher temperatures, summer is often a very uncomfortable time.

Coming from Brighton myself, I would say SAD can often be seen to have a physical effect on the city as a whole, the beach and Pavilion Gardens can get neglected completely in the harsh winter months compared to their social dominance in summer. Many people here that I have spoken to have said they often get down during the winter months, especially with the expense of Christmas.

Do not let it get you down; however, here are some tips with how to deal with SAD no matter when it affects you.

Using various forms of light is good for stimulating the brain into thinking that it is daylight for longer. They can come in many shapes and sizes, some of the most effective are bodyclock starter alarm clocks that gradually increase the brightness of light over a period of time to replicate a sunrise. The idea behind this is so that you wake up gradually to a well-lit room instead of getting up in complete darkness where your body believes it is still night time.

Alternatively, a SAD light box works by subjecting you to bright light equivalent of that on a summer’s day. Using this from half an hour upwards a day will get you feeling more awake and energised than the dull autumnal and winter mornings.

For some this may seem a dramatic approach to such a common problem, but SAD should be treated as a form of depression and counselling is one of the most effective tools to help cope. Counselling can be done in groups or individual sessions, whichever is more comfortable and helpful for you. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is also popular for treating SAD sufferers as it focuses on the self and how you can react differently to things to change your interpretation of them.

More often than not there are ample therapists and counsellors in your area once you start looking, there are so many different types of counselling Brighton has to offer, if you find being by the sea during winter difficult.

This can also sound alarming for this disorder, but there are specific anti-depressants for SAD, these focus more on increasing the level of serotonin in your brain which causes your mood to improve, just how sunlight affects the brain. These can, however, take weeks to take effect and some patients experience side effects such as an upset stomach. In order to be prescribed anti-depressants you must speak to your GP, here they will be able to recommend the best chemical and dosage suited to you and your symptoms.

SAD is a very common disorder, especially for young people, so it is important that sufferers are not left to feel stupid, or alone. These are the three main treatments for the disorder but it is essential that you speak to your doctor or GP before trying any of them.

For Brighton in particular here is a short list of places to try if you are seeking professional help:
http://www.newroadconsultancy.com/
http://www.mindcharity.co.uk/mind-directory-categories/talking-therapies-counselling/


Sources:
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Seasonal-affective-disorder/pages/introduction.aspx
http://www.webmd.com/depression/summer-depression
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/seasonal-affective-disorder/DS00195/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs


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