Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that's related to changes in seasons.
Symptoms start in the fall and continue into the winter months, sapping your energy and making you feel moody.
Treatment for SAD may include light therapy (phototherapy), psychotherapy and medications.
Dave Miers, MD is here to spread some light on Seasonal affective disorder.
Selected Podcast
Are You SAD? Seasonal Affective Disorder is Treatable
Featured Speaker:
Learn more about Bryan Mental Health Services
Dave Miers, PhD, Bryan Mental Health Services
Dr. Dave Miers is the counseling and program development manager for mental health services at Bryan Medical Center.Learn more about Bryan Mental Health Services
Transcription:
Are You SAD? Seasonal Affective Disorder is Treatable
DepresMelanie Cole (Host): Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, is a type of depression that relates to the change in season and can begin and end about the same time every year. My guest today is Dr. Dave Miers. He’s the Counseling and Program Development Manager for Mental Health Services at Bryan Medical Center. In addition, he co-chairs the Nebraska State Suicide Prevention Coalition. Welcome to the show, Dr. Miers. What is SAD?
Dr. Dave Miers (Guest): SAD is a Seasonal Affective Disorder and it’s a type of depression. We know that studies show, in general, that depression can affect about 10% of the United States population at any given time and that’s all types of depression. Seasonal Affective Disorder is one of those types of depression and, as you mentioned, it’s the type of depression that can impact an individual, and generally occurs at the same time every year and most often we see it happening generally in the winter time. There are a small number of cases that we see where they see Seasonal Affective Disorder that might come up during the summer time. Most often, it’s those times of year where there is less sunlight in the wintertime, where individuals just start having the signs of depression, and have those symptoms.
Melanie: Are there some causes? Melatonin levels or serotonin? Are there things that we can point to that say, “Yes, this puts you a little bit more at risk”?
Dr. Miers: With depression, there are different theories that look at depression and what causes depression. If you have depression in your family, generally speaking, your children or other individuals in your family have a higher percentage chance of possibly having some type of depression themselves. With Seasonal Affective Disorder, there are different treatments for it and one of the treatments sometimes that a psychiatrist might, or physician may, order is light therapy. It’s meant to mimic the effects of sunlight to help rebalance the chemicals in an individual to feel better. There are different theories out there as far as the causes of depression but we know that Seasonal Affective Disorder is treatable and we can maybe talk about some of the treatments.
Melanie: Well we certainly will. Just tell us: are men or women more susceptible and does it matter where you live? If you’re further from the equator or if you live in North Dakota or something are you more susceptible to this?
Dr. Miers: We see it more often in women than in men as far as Seasonal Affective Disorder. It’s more common in the states or parts of the world where there’s the least amount of sunlight. Where there’s less sunlight, then the percentage or the number of cases of Seasonal Affective Disorder seem to be higher.
Melanie: Now, let’s speak about the treatments. What do you tell people that they can do if you’ve determined that they have Seasonal Affective Disorder?
Dr. Miers: Treatment is very similar as if you were being treated for depression itself, not specifically the Seasonal Affective Disorder, such as seeking talk therapy. Oftentimes talk therapy during that time can be very effective. Sometimes, anti-depressants can be very effective for individuals. Some individuals may just have talk therapy alone and other individuals may have medication alone in working with their provider. Research shows that combining both of those things together at the same time can be more effective as far as quicker results and feeling better. Seasonal Affective Disorder, another type of treatment is called “light therapy.” Light therapy is where, working with your provider who can prescribe that, is where you purchase a light box and there are special bulbs that they use in this light box that produces light and oftentimes, the provider may prescribe it that you will sometimes put it on just a few feet from you for about 30 minutes a day, sometimes. Sometimes this is done early in the morning and it’s done to mimic sunlight. A person keeps their eyes open but you don’t look straight into the light source itself. The light therapy, oftentimes, the goal of it is to help improve the symptoms. Oftentimes, with light therapy individuals see improvement in 3-4 weeks. There are some things that individuals can do on their own, in addition to other treatments such as: monitoring their sleep; making sure they’re getting enough sleep; eating healthy; taking their medicines as prescribed, if they are on medication; asking their provider how to manage side effects, if they do have any side effects from medication and continuing to monitor and watch their symptoms to make sure that they are improving. And, if they are getting any worse, keeping that communication open with their provider is very important. Exercising, pushing yourself to do the activities you like to do. Oftentimes, with depression you find yourself wanting to isolate and not wanting to do the things that you normally like to do. By getting out and doing those things and pushing yourself and getting that energy is very important.
Melanie: What about some of the other forms, and you mentioned exercise? It’s so important but then, people look to some complimentary treatments – yoga or acupuncture--or even any supplements, are there any things that you recommend that people can try that could help them with their Seasonal Affective Disorder?
Dr. Miers: Keep that communication open with their treating provider and ask about what other treatments are available. Oftentimes, individuals find support groups helpful. Support groups such as meeting with other individuals with depression. Another idea would be looking at a wellness recovery action plan where you sit down and work with an individual in a group and develop a wellness plan that “when I have these symptoms, these are the things I should do to help me feel better” so that when you notice the symptoms, you pull out your plan and you know exactly “these are the steps that I need to take”. If you find things that do make you happy, that do make you relax, that are helpful, then those are the things to try in addition to what’s being prescribed as far as your treatment plan.
Melanie: Dr. Miers, in just the last few minutes, if somebody suffers from Seasonal Affective Disorder and they know that they suffer from this, is there anything that they can do in advance of that change of season to prevent it from possibly happening to them? And then, why should they come to Bryan Mental Health Center for their care?
Dr. Miers: It’s important for an individual to know their symptoms and know their behaviors and to monitor themselves and, if they are diagnosed with Seasonal Affective Disorder, they will know that, typically, they will know what time of year the symptoms typically arrive. So, it’s important stay connected with your treating provider and to follow that treatment plan so you know that the symptoms may dissipate over time and the symptoms happen during that same time very year. It’s just important to keep that communication open because sometimes when individuals do get the treatment, things do get better and they may not realize some of those symptoms later on. Sometimes, for individuals with symptoms, they do come back at the same time every year and so when you do know your symptoms and know your plan, it’s important to have that plan in place and to know what steps to take and what things are helpful to you and to get engaged with that treatment plan and the treatment process right away.
Melanie: Tell us about some the mental health services at Bryan Medical Center.
Dr. Miers: At Bryan Medical Center, we have the Bryan Counseling Center which is our outpatient clinic that has therapists, psychologists and social workers on staff that provide outpatient treatment for individuals. So, individuals wanting to see a therapist, they can call in and visit with our nurse who will work with that individual and connect them to one of our providers on an outpatient basis who will provide counseling, develop a treatment plan and help that individual with the symptoms that they may be experiencing. We also have, if the individuals are in a mental health crisis, and our hope or goal is that individuals realize their symptoms early and possibly go on and take an online screening on our website and identify those symptoms and to manage those symptoms and get involved in treatment early. With individuals in a mental health crisis and need help right away, we do have a mental health emergency department and that is available 24 hours a day, 7 days week at the Bryan West Emergency Department and the staff there are available at all times to help individuals who are in crisis.
Melanie: Thank you so much, doctor. It’s just such great information. You’re listening to Bryan Health Radio. For more information about mental health services at Bryan Health you can go to BryanHealth.com. That’s BryanHealth.com. This is Melanie Cole. Thanks so much for listening.
Are You SAD? Seasonal Affective Disorder is Treatable
DepresMelanie Cole (Host): Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, is a type of depression that relates to the change in season and can begin and end about the same time every year. My guest today is Dr. Dave Miers. He’s the Counseling and Program Development Manager for Mental Health Services at Bryan Medical Center. In addition, he co-chairs the Nebraska State Suicide Prevention Coalition. Welcome to the show, Dr. Miers. What is SAD?
Dr. Dave Miers (Guest): SAD is a Seasonal Affective Disorder and it’s a type of depression. We know that studies show, in general, that depression can affect about 10% of the United States population at any given time and that’s all types of depression. Seasonal Affective Disorder is one of those types of depression and, as you mentioned, it’s the type of depression that can impact an individual, and generally occurs at the same time every year and most often we see it happening generally in the winter time. There are a small number of cases that we see where they see Seasonal Affective Disorder that might come up during the summer time. Most often, it’s those times of year where there is less sunlight in the wintertime, where individuals just start having the signs of depression, and have those symptoms.
Melanie: Are there some causes? Melatonin levels or serotonin? Are there things that we can point to that say, “Yes, this puts you a little bit more at risk”?
Dr. Miers: With depression, there are different theories that look at depression and what causes depression. If you have depression in your family, generally speaking, your children or other individuals in your family have a higher percentage chance of possibly having some type of depression themselves. With Seasonal Affective Disorder, there are different treatments for it and one of the treatments sometimes that a psychiatrist might, or physician may, order is light therapy. It’s meant to mimic the effects of sunlight to help rebalance the chemicals in an individual to feel better. There are different theories out there as far as the causes of depression but we know that Seasonal Affective Disorder is treatable and we can maybe talk about some of the treatments.
Melanie: Well we certainly will. Just tell us: are men or women more susceptible and does it matter where you live? If you’re further from the equator or if you live in North Dakota or something are you more susceptible to this?
Dr. Miers: We see it more often in women than in men as far as Seasonal Affective Disorder. It’s more common in the states or parts of the world where there’s the least amount of sunlight. Where there’s less sunlight, then the percentage or the number of cases of Seasonal Affective Disorder seem to be higher.
Melanie: Now, let’s speak about the treatments. What do you tell people that they can do if you’ve determined that they have Seasonal Affective Disorder?
Dr. Miers: Treatment is very similar as if you were being treated for depression itself, not specifically the Seasonal Affective Disorder, such as seeking talk therapy. Oftentimes talk therapy during that time can be very effective. Sometimes, anti-depressants can be very effective for individuals. Some individuals may just have talk therapy alone and other individuals may have medication alone in working with their provider. Research shows that combining both of those things together at the same time can be more effective as far as quicker results and feeling better. Seasonal Affective Disorder, another type of treatment is called “light therapy.” Light therapy is where, working with your provider who can prescribe that, is where you purchase a light box and there are special bulbs that they use in this light box that produces light and oftentimes, the provider may prescribe it that you will sometimes put it on just a few feet from you for about 30 minutes a day, sometimes. Sometimes this is done early in the morning and it’s done to mimic sunlight. A person keeps their eyes open but you don’t look straight into the light source itself. The light therapy, oftentimes, the goal of it is to help improve the symptoms. Oftentimes, with light therapy individuals see improvement in 3-4 weeks. There are some things that individuals can do on their own, in addition to other treatments such as: monitoring their sleep; making sure they’re getting enough sleep; eating healthy; taking their medicines as prescribed, if they are on medication; asking their provider how to manage side effects, if they do have any side effects from medication and continuing to monitor and watch their symptoms to make sure that they are improving. And, if they are getting any worse, keeping that communication open with their provider is very important. Exercising, pushing yourself to do the activities you like to do. Oftentimes, with depression you find yourself wanting to isolate and not wanting to do the things that you normally like to do. By getting out and doing those things and pushing yourself and getting that energy is very important.
Melanie: What about some of the other forms, and you mentioned exercise? It’s so important but then, people look to some complimentary treatments – yoga or acupuncture--or even any supplements, are there any things that you recommend that people can try that could help them with their Seasonal Affective Disorder?
Dr. Miers: Keep that communication open with their treating provider and ask about what other treatments are available. Oftentimes, individuals find support groups helpful. Support groups such as meeting with other individuals with depression. Another idea would be looking at a wellness recovery action plan where you sit down and work with an individual in a group and develop a wellness plan that “when I have these symptoms, these are the things I should do to help me feel better” so that when you notice the symptoms, you pull out your plan and you know exactly “these are the steps that I need to take”. If you find things that do make you happy, that do make you relax, that are helpful, then those are the things to try in addition to what’s being prescribed as far as your treatment plan.
Melanie: Dr. Miers, in just the last few minutes, if somebody suffers from Seasonal Affective Disorder and they know that they suffer from this, is there anything that they can do in advance of that change of season to prevent it from possibly happening to them? And then, why should they come to Bryan Mental Health Center for their care?
Dr. Miers: It’s important for an individual to know their symptoms and know their behaviors and to monitor themselves and, if they are diagnosed with Seasonal Affective Disorder, they will know that, typically, they will know what time of year the symptoms typically arrive. So, it’s important stay connected with your treating provider and to follow that treatment plan so you know that the symptoms may dissipate over time and the symptoms happen during that same time very year. It’s just important to keep that communication open because sometimes when individuals do get the treatment, things do get better and they may not realize some of those symptoms later on. Sometimes, for individuals with symptoms, they do come back at the same time every year and so when you do know your symptoms and know your plan, it’s important to have that plan in place and to know what steps to take and what things are helpful to you and to get engaged with that treatment plan and the treatment process right away.
Melanie: Tell us about some the mental health services at Bryan Medical Center.
Dr. Miers: At Bryan Medical Center, we have the Bryan Counseling Center which is our outpatient clinic that has therapists, psychologists and social workers on staff that provide outpatient treatment for individuals. So, individuals wanting to see a therapist, they can call in and visit with our nurse who will work with that individual and connect them to one of our providers on an outpatient basis who will provide counseling, develop a treatment plan and help that individual with the symptoms that they may be experiencing. We also have, if the individuals are in a mental health crisis, and our hope or goal is that individuals realize their symptoms early and possibly go on and take an online screening on our website and identify those symptoms and to manage those symptoms and get involved in treatment early. With individuals in a mental health crisis and need help right away, we do have a mental health emergency department and that is available 24 hours a day, 7 days week at the Bryan West Emergency Department and the staff there are available at all times to help individuals who are in crisis.
Melanie: Thank you so much, doctor. It’s just such great information. You’re listening to Bryan Health Radio. For more information about mental health services at Bryan Health you can go to BryanHealth.com. That’s BryanHealth.com. This is Melanie Cole. Thanks so much for listening.