Does Seasonal Affect Disorder Affect Seniors Too?

 Seniors are no strangers to depression.   Winter blues are just as prevalent in the senior population as in any other age group. Depression of any kind needs to be diagnosed and treated promptly.   Disavow yourself of the notion that older people are suppose to exhibit low energy levels, lack energy, and socially isolate themselves.

 

Season Affect Disorder or the winter blues is a form of depression that seems to be related to the diminishing daylight in the fall and winter months.  SAD occurs often enough (in an estimated 6% of the population) that numerous studies have been launched to determine if and how it can be treated.  Symptoms such as social withdrawal, slow sluggish movements, lack of energy, a tendency to sleep more, gain weight and decrease activities, seems to increase during the winter months.

 

An article by Melinda Beck in The Wall Street Journal (Tuesday, December 1, 2009) relates that  despite decades of studies, the experts still aren’t  exactly sure what causes this type of depression.  The symptoms seem to improve spontaneously during spring and summer months.  However, a number of treatment plans have been developed and recommended.

 

Some people who exhibit SAD symptoms don’t recognize them as such and tend to blame themselves, or attributed them to anything else.  However there are a wide range of treatments that can alleviate the symptoms.  Most experts feel that if you just have a case of the winter blues it is safe for you to try common remedies on your own, but recommend professional help if you are having severe depression.

 

Common Therapies include light therapy, dawn simulation, negative air ions, antidepressants, cognitive behavior therapy, vitamin D, sun tanning, exercising out of doors and diet.

 

Light therapy has been studied more than most other treatments.  The treatment entails sitting before an intense light for 15-20 minutes a day.  Light therapy is believed to relieve symptoms in 80% of SAD cases.  With the proper dosing and timing of light therapy the symptoms of depression may start to lift in as little as three days.  The best light boxes provide 10,000 lux of illumination so are many times stronger than a typical indoor light.  Side effects are minimal and the major drawback is the time and dedication to daily use.

 

Dawn Simulations:  Another form of light therapy is one that gradually turns the light on in your bedroom, which creates a slow transition from darkness to dawn right in your room while it is still dark outside.

 

Negative Air Ions are believed to have mood-lifting properties.  There are no known side-effects but research has been limited.

 

Antidepressants:  If light therapy doesn’t work, some patients find relief from antidepressants.  The light therapy works faster, however, and with fewer side effects so don’t automatically jump into pill taking without trying everything else.

 

Cognitive Behavior Therapy:  Researchers are finding that changing your behavior can help alleviate symptoms.  Patients are asked to identify and then challenge negative thoughts and behaviors.

 

Vitamin D:  Deficiencies in vitamin D have been linked to a wide variety of illness, including depressions.  Most researchers feel that more study is needed on the effects and dosages needed.  Sun tanning via sunlight and tanning beds has long been thought to be beneficial but the risks of sunburn as well as skin cancer, eye damage and premature aging are well known.

 

Exercising outdoors can go along way toward alleviated SAD symptoms as well eating more fruits and vegetables and keeping meals light which improves insulin regulation (and improve moods).  Do not struggle with any type of depression alone.