Tatum Shaw 258-73-4745 Class Section 4 Scientists Shed Light on the Winter Blues When a case of the winter blues feels more like depression, you may be suffering SAD stands for Seasonal Affective Disorder. SAD is a seasonal disruption ofmood that occurs during the winter months and ceases with the beginning of spring. Symptoms usually begin in September when days begin to shorten, and last through thewinter into March when the days begin to lengthen again. The symptoms of SAD usuallyinclude episodes of depression, hypersomnia, increased appetite, and weight gain. Lightplays a big part in its origin and in its treatment. To better understand winter depression, think of it as four months of jet lag. Thehuman body has hundreds of 24-hour biological rhythms all controlled by one “internalclock.” The sleep cycle is one rhythm. Body temperature is another. The brain’sproduction of certain chemicals, like the nighttime hormone melatonin, is another. Melatonin is a hormone produced by a gland in the brain called the pineal gland. Highlevels of this hormone can adversely affect our mood. Very little melatonin is secreted indaytime light and its peak production is usually at night, between 2 and 3 a.m. Due totheir longer nights, winter months cause extra production of melatonin in the body. In thesummer, most of us wake up when it is light outside. The morning light decreases thelevels of melatonin in the body. In winter, however, most of us force ourselves to wakeup while it’s still dark outside. The darkness causes increased levels of melatonin, whichcause some people to become depressed. Seasonal Affective Disorder causes many symptoms of depression. It can cause adiminished interest or enthusiasm in all, or almost all, activities. Overeating, especially ofcarbohydrates, leads to significant weight gain. SAD causes sleep problems such asoversleeping, but not feeling refreshed; and a feeling of let...
