SAD affects more women than men. Between 60 and 90% of the people diagnosed with SAD are women.

A diagnosis may be made if you’ve experienced symptoms during the fall and winter, but recovered with seasonal changes for at least two years in a row. Some people even experience SAD during the summer months instead of the fall and winter (reverse SAD).

SAD may be treated with light therapy or cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Other treatments include the use of antidepressants and other forms of counseling.

The University of Vermont recently reported findings from a SAD study that compared the use of light therapy, CBT, or a combination of the two treatments. Researchers found that one year after treatment, participants treated with CBT had a 7% recurrence rate of SAD compared to a 36.7% recurrence rate for light therapy treatment. Participants in the combination group had a 5.5% rate of recurrence. Those treated with CBT had less severe depression than those treated with light therapy or a combo of CBT and light therapy.

Researchers contribute the lower success rate of light therapy with the commitment that it requires of patients and the resulting low compliance rate. To comply with therapy, participants had sit in front of a light box for 30 minutes each day.

If you suffer from SAD, what treatments have worked for you?

(Image via flickr/Evil Erin)

Post from: Blisstree

Which SAD Treatment Works Best

Can Pets Develop CFS? You will be introduced to Charlie (the family dog), and learn a little bit about why a Veterinary Clinic in Italy, really believes why a pet can suffer from CFS.

There Is No Right Direction For CFS Recovery Here you will be introduced to my latest symptom, and where I discover that progress is not linear. I mention (yet again) how important it is for me, to walk the trails near my house, and what happened when I discovered a new path, and how it relates to what I am going through at this moment.

Will Light Therapy Work For Patients With CFS Since I work for a company that specializes in lighting, I thought I would try and research the field, a bit. I found some interesting information. And while I don’t believe that this treatment will work for me (being light sensitive), I am confident that it can help others who suffer with CFS. Although if my company ever felt like donating a light box to me, I wouldn’t turn it down. I collaborated on this with someone who actually knows what he is talking about (regarding light boxes), so you can completely trust this information to be accurate.

A PWC Can Do More Than Wish On Stars- He Can Reach Them This is my post about Keith Jarrett. Not only is Mr Jarrett a PWC that I hold as an example of how to live my life, he is a musical genius (those who read this blog frequently, will know that I admire geniusness- especially of the musical variety). Enjoy the video. His trio ROCKS!

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Super Balls – A Comparison This is my very favorite commercial. It was featured last year as one of the Sony Bravia TV ads. Talk about genius! The music is fabulous, and the production…well, the production is exhausting just thinking about how they pulled it off. But mostly, I think its a great representation of what its like to live with CFS (the ups and downs).

The Single Gal’s Guide to CFIDS A list of 10 things that you can do, to make living alone with CFS just a little bit more bearable.

10 Reasons To Make Your Bed Now you didn’t think I was going to leave out this one! Its just what it says it is….10 reasons to make your bed, every day.

The Mind Body Connection Just a little post, about my experiences exploring meditation, and how it can help reduce a whole lot of stress.

No More Bad Hair Days For The PWC This year I learned that your hair can fall out, due to really high fevers. Its about my struggle against battling the problems vs. cutting it all off (I decided to cut it all off). There is a little something extra for the knitters out there (like Jennie).

The 50% Rule Something we can all relate to. My doctor, is always telling me that I need to do less. I always resist, because I have done my time (doing less), I am very much ready for a full life now. And so I push myself. But there are times that I need to be reminded, that I should not be doing so much.

There you have it, my list of favorite 2006 posts. Hope you had fun reliving the last year with me. Please go to Breastfeeding 1-2-3 to look at the summary of all of the “best of 2006″ posts.

Post from: Blisstree

My Favorite Posts From 2006 -A Belated b5 media Theme Day

On occasion, when my doctor is frustrated with my lack of progress he suggests that I try light therapy. Now, I have a problem with this. I am very sensitive to light, both natural and artificial. You will find me wearing sunglasses everyday of the year. Including rainy days. I live in Vancouver, and it rains a lot here….but I still need my “sunnies”. In fact I have days, where I have to wear sunglasses indoors. I take a lot of flack for wearing sunglasses at work, but I just have to deal with it….either I get made fun of, or I can’t work because I can’t see. So I am skeptical of what a light box can do for me. That said, I have heard that it helps many people. Including ones that suffer from CFS.

For those of you who don’t know what light therapy is, let me try and explain it the simplest way possible. Light therapy involves exposure to intense light. This light enters the eye, hits the retina and is sent via nerve impulses to the gland which controls melatonin secretion. Light therapy drastically reduces daytime melatonin levels to strengthen your serotonin levels. Light boxes need to be at 10, 000 lux (measurement of light), and you need to sit within 20-24 inches in front of it for about 30 minutes every morning. Keep in mind, that you do not have to look directly into the light. You can read a book, or eat your breakfast, even meditate (although I am not so sure how to meditate with your eyes open….I have to close my eyes when I meditate).

What this does, is regulates your circadian rhythms (so you will feel sleepy or alert depending on what time of day it is). This will re-set your inner time clock, in order to experience regular patterns of restful sleep. Sound good, doesn’t it….keep reading.

A person can sustain side effects from using light boxes. However, symptoms are short lived and will disappear within a few days. Side effects can consist of the following: eye irritation, nausea, dry skin, headaches, anxiety and feeling jittery (like you have had a few too many cups of coffee). Like I said, these symptoms will only last a couple of days, while your body adjusts to the light. In case you are wondering, these light boxes should be covered by your health insurance. At least in the US, I believe it is. I have no idea about Canada, or any other country.

We all know that sunlight is beneficial to PWC’s, its usually why our symptoms are lessened in the summer. With light therapy, you can get almost the same amount of light as you can during the months of June and July. Plus you don’t have to be outside and be bothered by all those pesky mosquitoes.

Oh it must be said, if you are interested in getting a light box, it is not necessary to purchase full spectrum. You may be told differently, if you go looking for one. I have it on the best authority, that full spectrum is not needed. So you can trust me on this.

Post from: Blisstree

Will Light Therapy Work for Patients With CFS

Unfortunately, no sun can be found here today. 

However,sunshine is fantastic for people with CFS.  I am one of those people who love the dark.  I wear sunglasses all the time (occasionally at work) because really bright light tends to bother my eyes….plus i am just that cool.

15 minutes of sunshine can make a world of difference for a PWC.  The sun provides us with a huge dose of Vitamins D and B12, and a healthy boost of serotonin.  Besides, fresh air is just really uplifting.  When I am having a not fantastic day, i make myself get some early morning or evening sun.  It gives me a slight perk.

However, if you happen to live in the Pacific Northwest or in a climate similar to Vancouver or Seattle, you may find days of sunshine few and far between.  If that is the case, there is such a thing as light therapy.  With this you can bring the sunshine indoors.  This option will be explored a lot more fully at a later date.  Right now, I have to go outside and sing a song to the rain (aka liquid sunshine).

Post from: Blisstree

rain rain go away