Winter SADness
 Kathy Hoey, LICSW
Senior Psychiatric Social Work Supervisor
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is more than just a letdown after the holidays or an adjustment to the cold winter season. It is a mood disorder that people may experience who may have no other mental health issue throughout most of the year. It includes depressive symptoms that have a seasonal pattern at specific times, for at least two seasons. You may sleep too much, have little energy, feel irritable and have negative thinking, socially withdraw, have a lack of interest or pleasure and gain weight. The symptoms can vary with different intensity and may be part of a larger clinical problem. So we recommend that these issues be discussed with your doctor to get an accurate diagnosis and treatment recommendations.
What causes Seasonal Affective Disorder?
As you can imagine, there are many theories. Some think that as humans evolved, we had exposure to less sunlight, faced food scarcity and even hibernated in winter months. So SAD may be associated with human development. There is also a common belief that suicide rates peak during the cold and winter months but research suggests suicide is actually greater in late spring and early summer months.
Are there any strategies to counteract this?
Yes, of course! Individuals and caregivers can do much to vary their routines to break the cycle. Since seasonal mood variations may be related to lack of light, some people suggest light therapy. Light boxes vary and there are very specific recommendations to follow when using a light box. But there are also alternatives. For example, try bright full spectrum light bulbs in your living space, use a dawn simulator to wake you in the morning or just spend more time outside exposed to the sunlight. These can be just as effective and more easily integrated into your life.
I always advocate regular exercise and mindful eating as helpful approaches. Shaking yourself up in other ways can also help. For example, you could try getting out socially and spend time with good people, invite someone to tea, the movies, museum or for a walk, learn something new, do something different, make good on your new year's resolutions, take up a new project, do volunteer work, or join a gym or other club, group or activity. And use all your senses to enhance your life, listen to good music or the sounds of nature, bring more color to your life like beautiful art, bake something that fills your home with delightful smells, eat the full spectrum of savory tastes, and go out and hug someone...it all works.
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CHA Updates
Outreach Update
CHA has been partnering with the Flavia Leal Institute, a local beauty school, to engage seniors about health and wellness. Thanks to Jesse Branth from the Elder Service Plan and Hugo Rengifo from the Volunteer Health Advisor team, we've been at the Everett Housing Authority, Everett Council on Aging and the Greenhouse in Chelsea for health screenings, haircut, makeup, manicures and hand massages. Email Jesse to learn more!
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Special Thanks!
We want to thank Mary Perin, a 94 year old CHA volunteer, for knitting and donating 70 caps for CHA patients and their families. Mary is pictured here with Hugo Rengifo, Program Coordinator at the Aging Wisely Everett program, delivering her latest donation to Molly Tomutsa and Melanie Foxx from CHA's Breast Health Center in Cambridge. Mary looks forward to making more hats to give away this winter.
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CAMBRIDGE HEALTH ALLIANCE is a vital and innovative community health system that provides essential services to Cambridge, Somerville, and Boston's metro-north communities. It includes three hospital campuses, a network of primary care and specialty practices, and the Cambridge Public Health Dept. CHA is a Harvard Medical School teaching affiliate and is also affiliated with Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, and Tufts University School of Medicine. For more information, visit www.challiance.org. |
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This newsletter provides general information for educational purposes only. The information provided in this newsletter, or through linkages to other sites, is not a substitute for medical or professional care, and you should not use the information in place of a visit, call consultation or the advice of your physician or other healthcare provider.
Thank you.
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CHA Emergency Department is FAST-ER
When emergencies happen, it's great to know that the CHA Emergency Department is nearby with quick, high quality, 24-hours care - at Cambridge Hospital, Somerville Hospital and Whidden Hospital in Everett.
In fact, according to hospitalcompare.com, the average time patients spent in the CHA ED before being seen by a healthcare professional is just six minutes - the fastest of Massachusetts! This is more impressive because our ED is also one of the busiest in the Commonwealth.
CHA Surgery Goes Open Access
The CHA Department of Surgery has made changes to improve service and quality for patients. We now offer Open Access scheduling with same or next day appointments. This lets patients get seen quickly at any CHA hospital.
Open Access is available in all surgery divisions - General Surgery, Breast Surgery, Ophthalmology (Eye), Otolaryngology (Ear, Nose, and Throat), Urology, Vascular Surgery and Podiatry. Patients and providers can call 617-665-2555 to make an appointment for an evaluation.
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