Feel the days getting shorter and a chill in the air?
Millions of Americans can expect to be impacted by seasonal affective disorder or SAD, especially in the months following winding our clocks back an hour on Nov. 3.
In Northwest Ohio, we lose one hour of sunlight each morning and evening, impacting daily lives.
“We see a lot of seasonal affective disorder in the areas of the country that are typically colder or have less sunlight for longer periods of time,” Elijah Jones, Director of Programs and Services at the Mental Health and Recovery Services Board of Lucas County, said.
The symptoms of SAD are aligned with major depressive disorders, Mr. Jones explained.
“Sleeping in longer, or having a hard time getting out of bed or getting aroused, feelings of worthlessness, difficulty concentrating or making decisions. It could even include thoughts of death or suicide,” he said.
When we “fall back” an hour, the drive to work in the morning gets difficult for many individuals.
“People struggle with the change around this time, and we see an ongoing struggle with people around the shorter days, less sunlight, people having to go to work when it's dark and get home when it's dark,” Mr. Jones said.
A higher number of car accidents and heart attacks have been reported after the end of daylight saving time.
A correlation between these results and the loss of that extra hour of sleep can be made, according to Bill Emahiser, licensed professional clinical counselor at Unison Health.
“As far as heart attacks go, there's a big connection between physical health and sleep,” Mr. Emahiser noted.
Michigan Medicine reported a 24 percent increase in heart attacks when daylight saving time ends, based on a 2014 study.
“Increased accidents make a lot of sense too, especially when the time changes, you know that hour, you think, ‘Well, that's not such a big deal,’ But it really is,” Mr. Emahiser said.
An annual 30 traffic deaths could be caused by the time change, according to a 2002 to 2011 study conducted by the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Sudden impact
What seems to be a simple schedule adjustment, changes lives for those with SAD and otherwise.
The clinical term for SAD is major depressive disorder with seasonal pattern, according to a 2013 revision to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders or the DSM-5. The diagnosis criteria for SAD requires more than only feeling sad for a short while during the gloomy weather, Mr. Emahiser explained.
“We're looking for two years in a row where we have depressive symptoms, major depressive symptoms, that start, usually in a season, typically winter, and then usually go away in the spring,” he said.
SAD manifests in some individuals more than others, Mr. Emahiser observed.
“It tends to be more common in women than men. It tends to affect 18- to 30-year-olds more than older people,” he said.
In Northwest Ohio, there are practical solutions to combat SAD before it even begins.
A combative tip is to partake in moderate exercise for 30 minutes a day, Mr. Emahiser shared.
“I prefer my clients to walk outside. Let's go outside and get some sun, even if there is no sun, even if it's cloudy, just getting outside. Getting some fresh air is really super important,” he said.
Staying connected with family and friends is important when you feel the winter blues approaching.
“Oftentimes, what happens is people just feel so down and so depressed and so fatigued that they start missing out on opportunities to connect with friends and family. That social component is really, really, important. We don't want to avoid opportunities to connect with others,” Mr. Emahiser said
Medicine cabinet
Another approach to treating SAD is medication, Camille Combs, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner at ProMedica shared.
“There's medications. That's normally the first line of defense for many. That can play a role. There are SSRIs, which is our selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. There are also the SNRIs, which is still serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors,” Ms. Combs said.
These classes of medications work to increase mood and emotional stability, she explained.
As we come across days with less sunlight, our bodies will be making less vitamin D, according to the National Institute for Mental Health. But even when it’s cloudy outside, “sunlight” is being sold for purchase.
“Light therapy is also another resourceful mechanism that seems to work well. It can be purchased, I believe, even online, and you use it for maybe 20 minutes in the morning,” Combs said.
Ancient cultures have believed the sun to have health benefits for thousands of years, but now light therapy boxes are being sold online for $20.
“That's creating your mind to get it stimulating, as though this is regular sunlight,” Ms. Combs said.
Staying consistent with light therapy is how you see results, the ProMedica practitioner shared.
“Light therapy seems to work for people that are dedicated and consistent with it. So normally, from experience, it’s not going to be just an ‘as needed’, it's something you probably would incorporate every day,” Ms. Combs said.
Know thyself
As we enter these winter months, medical professionals encourage individuals to pay attention to their symptoms.
In 2023, 51 percent of adults in Lucas County were limited in some way because of a physical, mental or emotional problem according to a Lucas County Community Health Assessment.
“Once you start to notice those symptoms or you're just not feeling yourself, I would highly suggest seeking medical attention by a provider who would be able to assist. That would be the number one goal,” Ms. Combs said.
Awareness of what others are going through can make a difference, Ms. Combs explained.
“Sometimes it does take a spouse, a child, additional family member or friend, to see that things are declining, and then that's kind of where the friend to step in and say, ‘Are you feeling okay? How are things going?’ Because it could be something as simple as just adjusting medication,” she said.
As we enter these darker months, anyone struggling with a mental health crisis can call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline to get instant support from a trained specialist.
Contact Kelly Doyle at kdoyle@theblade.com
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