SORRY SEASON

Helen Hanson is one of the seven per cent of the population who suffers from SAD. She tells Melonie Clarke how it affects her
SAD-02-176It’s hard to wake up and to get up. You feel lethargic, as though life’s not worth living, and you can’t always concentrate very well,’ says Helen Hanson, an artist, who first experienced the symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) when she was just 13 years old, after a period of illness.

All traces of the disorder then disappeared and it wasn’t until much later in life that they resurfaced and she was finally diagnosed.

‘I got flu in the winter and following that, I had post-viral depression. I was just really low. I became nervous, anxious; I lost my confidence and didn’t want to go out. I had all the classic depressive symptoms.’

Helen Hanson’s memories of that winter differ from those of previous ones. ‘I had had some bad times in winter. I never used to like Christmas – I’d always get very low and weepy around that time. But that winter, in particular, I remember as being a grey-beige colour.’

Hanson was prescribed medication and, slowly, as the summer came, she got better. It wasn’t until she was in her 40s that the symptoms recurred. ‘I moved from a light, airy flat to a nice – but dark – Edwardian terraced house. I hadn’t thought about it when I moved because [the symptoms] hadn’t been in my life for so long. When it happened, I could see the similarities from before. I had thought, the first time round, that it was a weird episode in my life, something to do with teenage blues.

‘I had an inner-ear virus that made me feel sick and dizzy. I couldn’t go out, so I was in my dark house a lot and that feeling of depression hit badly. I gradually got better over the summer, but the following September the depression came back and I’ve had it ever since.’

According to SADA, the Seasonal Affective Disorder Association, the condition is caused by a biochemical imbalance in the hypothalamus, resulting from the lack of sunlight in winter. It is estimated that, apart from the seven per cent of the UK population afflicted by SAD, a further 17 per cent suffers from a mild form of ‘winter blues’.

Despite it taking three years to diagnose the condition after the symptoms reappeared, Hanson still counts herself as one of the lucky ones. ‘It takes that long [to diagnose] because you have to see a pattern – someone getting better, and then getting worse, on an annual basis.’

Hanson’s previous doctor had prescribed antidepressants, taking her off them as the seasons changed. But she eventually saw another doctor who ‘looked at my notes and recognised a pattern. It was such a huge relief to know that I wasn’t going mad. I wasn’t imagining it and I wasn’t just being “lazy”.’

Helen Hanson’s doctor didn’t hide the fact that she knew very little about the disorder.

‘She referred me to the Citizens Advice Bureau who introduced me to the Seasonal Affective Disorder Association. I went along to SADA’s annual general meeting and everything just fitted.’

SADA helped her by offering literature about the condition and advising where to find a specially designed light box – light-therapy treatment works for 85 per cent of sufferers and features heavily in her management of the disorder. ‘If the light is dreadful, it’s possible to suffer from SAD even in summer. [Last year, SADA received as many enquiries about SAD in the summer as in the winter.] Many people believe it should be called LAD – Light Affective Disorder, because if we have a summer like we had in 2012, you can still feel down.’

Hanson believes that we should remember that we are animals. ‘We try to live in the same way, 24/7, but we can’t. I try to live my life in a more seasonal way; I try to eat seasonal food and I change expectations of myself depending on the time of year.

‘In September I start to stock up my cupboards with dried fruits and nuts. I’m a human squirrel – I just want to hibernate.’

Ultimately, and most importantly, SAD sufferers need to remember that they’re not mad, it’s not their fault, and they’re certainly not alone.

For more information and guidance on SAD, visit www.sada.org.uk

Symptoms of SAD

  • Sadness, anxiety
  • Feelings of hopelessness 
  • Feelings of guilt, worthlessness
  • Irritability
  • Restlessness
  • Loss of interest in things you used to enjoy
  • Fatigue and decreased energy
  • Lack of concentration
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Changes in weight
  • Thoughts of death

 

 

Remedies In Your Cupboard

  • A side effect of SAD can be drastic changes in blood sugar levels, so eating foods such as basmati rice, rye bread and pasta can help to ease this. Cereals, unsweetened muesli and bran flakes are also slow to release sugar into the bloodstream.
  • Herbal tea is a great way to manage the effects of SAD. Caffeine may give you a boost when energy levels are low, but can bring side effects such as anxiety, upset stomach and muscle tension. Herbal teas (such as peppermint or chamomile) are better choices than regular tea. Alcohol, much like caffeine, should be avoided, as it will only exacerbate an already low mood.
  • Fruits such as apricots, apples, pears and oranges have been shown to help to raise serotonin levels gradually (serotonin is a hormone that helps regulate mood and sleep patterns). Inhaling peppermint or lemon oil in water can also be a pick-me-up.