In the winter, even in sunny South Florida, the sun sets and darkness seems to roll in pretty early. Work a little late at your 9-to-5 job, and you probably won't see much sun until the weekend. Each year, this lack of healthy sunshine leaves a lot of us feeling the "winter blues." What you may not know is that the "winter blues" is another name for "Seasonal Affective Disorder", or S.A.D.

Once regarded with skeptisism by the medical community, S.A.D. is now recognized by many healthcare professionals as a mood disorder that includes some of the classic symptoms of depression; insomnia, irritability, anxiety, difficulty getting up in the morning, and decreased sex drive. Even people who enjoy normal mental health throughout the rest of the year can be affected by SAD. In fact, studies estimate that, even in Florida, as much as 1.4 percent of the adult population suffers some degree of "Seasonal Affective Disorder." Addtional symptoms include, lack of energy, difficulty concentrating, withdrawal from friends, family, and social activities, and a tendency to overeat, especially carbohydrates, which can lead to weight gain. As a result, sufferers are left feeling depressed, pessimistic, and hopeless.

The term S.A.D. was coined in 1984 by researcher Dr. Norman Rosenthal and his associates at the National Institute of Mental Health. For treatment, Dr. Rosenthal would refer patients to indoor tanning facilities for what was called "light therapy." Every year, millions of people come to indoor tanning salons to informally treat their “winter blues.". In fact, tanning equipment was first developed in Europe to administer light therapy; the cosmetic benefit of a year-round tan was an unintended side-effect of the treatment. Indoor tanning mimics natural light, which causes a biochemical reaction in the brain that elevates your mood, thus relieving the undesireable symptoms of seasonal affective disorder; something that our clients already know!

So, if the winter blues are really getting you down, talk to your friends, be with your family, and tell your doctor. In the meantime, stop in and see us. We can all use a little more sunshine in our lives!