1st Light

SAD stands for Seasonal Affective Disorder. Many people find that they feel low in energy and mood in the winter; they may sleep and eat slightly more and dislike the dark mornings. For some the symptoms are more severe and are enough to disrupt their lives and cause considerable stress. These people have SAD, and research indicates that it affects about half a million people in Britain. Around 5 million have milder symptoms in varying degrees, this is known as the Winter Blues.

If you suffer from some or most of the following, particularly between May and August each year, you may be suffering from SAD or winter blues
Sleep problems: oversleeping but not refreshed, cannot get out of bed, needing a nap in the afternoon
Overeating: carbohydrate craving leading to weight gain
Depression, despair, misery, guilt, anxiety: normal tasks become frustratingly difficult
Family/social problems: avoiding company, irritability, loss of libido, loss of feeling
Lethargy: too tired to cope, everything an effort
Physical symptoms: often joint pain or stomach problems, lowered resistance to infection
Behavioural problems: especially in young people

SAD is caused by the lack of bright light in winter. It is not a psychosomatic or imaginary problem. Researchers have proved that when bright light enters our eyes it causes chemical reactions to occur which control our daily rhythms and moods.Melatonin is produced as it gets dark, making us feel sleepy. At dawn, as the light increases, melatonin production falls and we start to wake up. We find it difficult to wake up on dark mornings because our melatonin levels are still high. New research has shown that exposure to bright light also increases the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that carries signals between the nerves in the brain. Low levels of serotonin are known to be a cause of depression and, in fact, this links well with what people say: tasks which are easy when you are well become frustratingly difficult when you are depressed.

SAD is caused by lack of light, and the best way to cure or prevent it is to increase your exposure to light. The most effective 'treatment' is to get away during the winter to somewhere sunny. Given that most of us can't do this, the next best option is to use light therapy; after all if the problem is caused by lack of light from nature then it makes sense to get light by other means. By using light therapy the underlying problem is removed – light therapy can work for some people immediately, for others it may take up to ten days or so. Light therapy is the treatment of choice in NHS SAD Specialist Clinics.

We encourage SAD sufferers to seek the support of their doctor. We can supply details of NHS SAD Specialist clinics as well as comprehensive information packs for medical practitioners.