Lamps for Depression can Prevent Moodiness in the Winter?

Answer 1

As the winter months set in across the Northern Hemisphere, thousands of people must deal with a subset of depression known as Seasonal Affective Disorder. This disorder is often referred to by its all-too-appropriate acronym. SAD sufferers may feel listless, depressed or unusually emotional throughout the winter months. Scientists believe that the season's short hours of sunlight and long, cold nights can create subtle malfunctions in the biological clocks of people who suffer from SAD.

What Causes Seasonal Affective Disorder?

The so-called "biological clock" refers to the complex interplay of hormones in the body and brain that tells humans when to wake up and when to sleep. Usually, these hormones are attuned to the presence of natural light; humans rise in the morning when the sun is up and fall asleep after dark. Disturbances like jetlag or insomnia can occur when these bodily cues no longer match up with the rising and setting of the sun. In the winter, shorter days make people want to sleep more. Some people cannot adjust to this lack of natural light without becoming cranky and irritable; their bodies tell them that they need to sleep, but their work schedules do not accommodate long mornings spent dozing in bed. In some people, these hormonal fluctuations are severe enough to cause lethargy and depression.

Can Seasonal Affective Disorder be Cured?

While there is no easy cure for SAD, there are treatments that can reduce or prevent listlessness and depression during the winter. Many companies produce lamps for depression caused by Seasonal Affective Disorder. These lamps are compatible with bright light bulbs that can produce "full spectrum" light. This means that the light that is generated by these bulbs can effectively mimic the full range of visible light produced by the sun. Full spectrum lights can trick a SAD sufferer's brain into producing the proper chemicals required for a functional biological clock.

These lights are most effective in the morning. Because many SAD sufferers have to rise before the sun, these bright lamps can mimic the feeling of natural sunlight in the morning. Some people who are vulnerable to Seasonal Affective Disorder choose to supplement this light therapy with oral doses of Vitamin D. This combination of full spectrum light and Vitamin D can reduce or eliminate moodiness and depression in the winter months.