You may have heard of SAD or Seasonal Affective Disorder in Salt Lake City, Utah. This is a condition that is virtually always seen in the winter and researchers now are in basic agreement that it is related somehow to the change in the amount of light that people are exposed to over the winter as compared to the spring, summer and even the early autumn months.
Seasonal affective disorder is much more common in northern locations and in women. The farther away from the equator you live the higher the actual rate among the population. For example according to a study published in Abnormal Psychology in 2014 the rate of SAD in Florida is just under 1.4% while in Alaska, which has long periods of total absence of sunlight in the winter months the rate is almost 10%.
Symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder in Salt Lake City, Utah
They symptoms of seasonal affective disorder in Salt Lake City, Utah can include a range of different intensities and degrees. Most people will experience several or all of these symptoms when the hours of daylight begin to shorter in the mid fall. These can include:
*Nausea
*Increased food consumption and chronic overeating, especially foods high in carbohydrates
*Lack of energy
*Difficulty in staying awake in the day and waking up in the morning
*Lack of enthusiasm and enjoyment of life activities
*Anxiety, irritation and concentration problems
*Increased weight gain
These symptoms are not constant and will typically disappear for people in Salt Lake City, Utah with the spring weather and warmer days in early to mid-April.
Treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder
As the symptoms of SAD can be very similar to depression, diagnosis is important to ensure the correct treatment. The most common and effective treatment for this condition is the use of light therapy, which provides you with the additional minutes of light to help reset your body’s circadian rhythms. Light therapy is done with fluorescent lights, not tanning or UV lights, and are only used for a maximum of two hours per day to extend your exposure to light.
In some cases and with specific patients, especially those that may have depression or anxiety, antidepressants combined with light therapy may be recommended for treatment of seasonal affective disorder in Salt Lake City, Utah.
