With the season of winter comes shorter hours of daylight and longer periods of darkness, as well as cold temperatures.
For some people, the shortening days of late autumn are the beginning of a type of clinical depression that can last until spring. Symptoms include and are not limited to:
- Persistent sadness, an anxious or empty mood
- Loss of pleasure in activities
- Decreased energy
- Fatigue and exhaustion
- Change in appetite, especially cravings for sweet or starchy foods
- Weight gain
- Tendency to oversleep
- Difficulty concentrating
- Irritability & avoidance of social contact (isolation)
- Feelings of anxiety and helplessness
These symptoms form a condition commonly referred to as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which cease in the warmer lighter months of spring and summer. The dark winter months can disrupt the body’s melatonin cycles. Sun light regulates the body's production of melatonin, a hormone that lets your body know when it's time to sleep. When light levels are low, the pineal gland secretes melatonin, a hormone that it also manufactures, which is involved in the regulation of sleep and mood disorders. Melatonin has the effect of sedating the body and promoting sleep. During seasons of low light, the pineal gland constantly produces melatonin and a sleepy state is induced. SAD can be a debilitating condition, preventing sufferers from functioning normally.
Being exposed to less sunlight can affect how much of the hormone serotonin is produced. When sunlight enters the eyes, it stimulates the parts of the retina that then cue the brain to produce serotonin. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that appears to play a role in regulating mood, emotions, appetite, and digestion. The good news is that serotonin and noradrenaline-norepinephrine have been shown to be released in reaction to acupuncture; which are common stimulants used in the treatment of SAD. Acupuncture offers viable side effect free care to antidepressants for the treatment of seasonal affective disorder.
|
