In case you didn’t hear the solemn news, my personal and professional families lost our ever-loving, precious Cooper the day before Thanksgiving. To say we were all sad would be an extreme understatement.
It took only one week for my husband Jon to find another shelter dog we could adopt to fill the void left in our hearts and our lives when Cooper crossed the Rainbow Bridge. We did not adopt quickly to replace Cooper, but to fill that void with another deserving canine spirit and the unconditional love he so freely shares.
I tell you this abbreviated story because it’s important to understand how sadness can weigh heavily on all of us and it can lead to mental and emotional complications like depression. This is especially concerning to me when it comes to seniors, because Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a real form of depression facing seniors in our area, and it should be identified and addressed as soon as possible to prevent the winter blues.
What is Seasonal Affective Disorder?
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), defines SAD as changes in mood that seriously impact how a person feels, thinks, and manages activities of daily living. In most cases, this occurs when the seasons change and there are fewer daylight hours.
“In most cases, SAD symptoms start in the late fall or early winter and go away during the spring and summer; this is known as winter-pattern SAD or winter depression. Some people may experience depressive episodes during the spring and summer months; this is called summer-pattern SAD or summer depression and is less common,” according to the NIMH.
What are the Signs and Symptoms of SAD?
Symptoms of major depression may include:
- Feelings of depression almost every day
- Loss of interest in activities once enjoyed
- Changes in appetite or weight
- Difficulty sleeping
- Fatigue or agitation
- Loss of energy
- Feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness
- Problems concentrating
- Thoughts of suicide or death
Winter-pattern SAD also may include:
- Hypersomnia (oversleeping)
- Overeating, particularly carbohydrates
- Weight gain
- Social withdrawal
What Causes SAD?
NIMH explains, “Scientists do not fully understand what causes SAD. Research indicates that people with SAD may have reduced activity of the brain chemical (neurotransmitter) serotonin, which helps regulate mood. Research also suggests that sunlight controls the levels of molecules that help maintain normal serotonin levels, but in people with SAD, this regulation does not function properly, resulting in decreased serotonin levels in the winter.
“Both serotonin and melatonin help maintain the body’s daily rhythm that is tied to the seasonal night-day cycle. In people with SAD, the changes in serotonin and melatonin levels disrupt the normal daily rhythms. As a result, they can no longer adjust to the seasonal changes in day length, leading to sleep, mood, and behavior changes.”
A deficiency of vitamin D may also make matters worse since vitamin D promotes serotonin activity. Aside from getting this vitamin from dairy and food consumption, sunlight is a key source of vitamin D production in the body, and with less sunlight during the winter months, seniors with SAD may have reduced serotonin levels.
How is SAD Treated?
Knowing some of the signs, symptoms, and causes of SAD, there are specific treatment options that can be used individually or in combination to help.
- Light therapy - Aims to expose people with SAD to a bright light every day to make up for the diminished natural sunshine in the darker months.
- Psychotherapy - Talk therapy aims to help people learn how to cope with difficult situations and shift negative thoughts and behaviors prompted during the darker winter months to more positive thinking.
- Antidepressant medications - Because SAD, like other types of depression, is associated with disturbances in serotonin activity, antidepressant medications called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are also used to treat SAD when symptoms occur. These agents can significantly enhance patients' moods.
- Vitamin D - Nutritional supplements of vitamin D may help improve symptoms of SAD.
The official beginning of winter is December 21, and we have all noticed the gradual shortening of daylight hours over the last few months. Over the holidays, pay particular attention to your senior loved ones and take notice of their moods, behaviors, and overall needs.
If you notice signs of SAD or other needs, talk to them about scheduling an appointment with their primary care provider to determine if therapy, medications, supplements, or in-home care could help.
If the doctor finds that your senior loved one could benefit from in-home care services, I am happy to offer a FREE Assessment to discuss specific ways Home Helpers® can be of service. After my assessment of needs, I will customize a care plan and choose the perfect caregiver to make life easier and happier during the holiday season and through the winter months.
Home Helpers® Wheaton & Naperville is proudly Making Life Easier℠ for veterans and those with disabilities, illness, or recovering from injury or surgery in Aurora, Bartlett, Bloomingdale, Hanover Park, Hoffman Estate, Roselle, Itasca, Medinah, Naperville, Plainfield, Schaumburg, Warrenville, West Chicago, Wheaton, and Winfield. Our team is honored to have received the Home Care Pulse – Best of Home Care® Leader in Experience, Provider of Choice, and the Employer of Choice Awards 2022, as well as the 2022 Super Star Award from Caring.com. Contact our award-winning team today if we can help make life easier for you or a loved one: 630.800.3837
Source:
National Institute of Mental Health
