January is a dark—and in many parts of the country, cold—month. The hours of daylight are short, and cases of seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, are at their peak.
People who suffer from SAD have symptoms of depression. This mood disorder, however, is associated with seasonal variations in light and usually subsides in the spring.
Mental Health America reports that SAD affects a half-million people every year between September and April, peaking in December, January and February. The "winter blues," the mental health advocacy organization adds, is a milder form of SAD that may affect even more people.
And if you don't think SAD has anything to do with your company, consider the case of a Wisconsin teacher who sued her school district after her requests to be reassigned to a classroom with natural light were denied. In July 2012, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that once the teacher made the school aware of her SAD disability, which was verified by her psychologist, the school was obligated to provide a reasonable accommodation. Locating an employee who has SAD near exterior windows can be a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act, according to the federal court.
Symptoms of SAD
According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of SAD start out mild and grow worse as the winter season progresses and include depression; hopelessness; anxiety; loss of energy; heavy, leaden feeling in the arms or legs; social withdrawal; oversleeping; loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities; appetite changes, especially a craving for foods high in carbohydrates; weight gain; and difficulty concentrating.
It's not known why some people develop SAD, but genetics, age and the body's natural chemical makeup play a role. Factors that contribute to SAD include the reduced level of sunlight disrupting the body's internal clock, a drop in the brain chemical serotonin, and a disruption in the balance of melatonin, a hormone that affects sleep patterns and mood.
SAD is diagnosed more frequently in women, but its symptoms are often more severe in men.
Treating SAD
Treatment for SAD includes light therapy, medications and psychotherapy. With light therapy, a specialized box that simulates outdoor light helps change brain chemicals linked to mood.
If symptoms of SAD are severe, a doctor might prescribe antidepressants, and psychotherapy can also be used to help change negative thoughts and behaviors brought on by SAD.
If someone in your company seems to have a depression that goes deeper than the "when-will-this-winter-end" blues, suggest they consult with their doctor. This is particularly important if there has been sleep pattern and appetite changes along with feelings of hopelessness, thoughts of suicide, or alcohol abuse.
SAD prevention
The jury is still out on whether SAD can be prevented, but there are things you can do to help yourself and your employees avoid the winter blahs. Try making this dark season a bit brighter at your company by taking some of these steps:
1. Adjust work hours so employees aren't always arriving and leaving
in the dark.
2. Make sure there is plenty of natural light available, or encourage employees to get outside for a few minutes every day. Just 20 minutes of natural daylight can provide a big boost.
3. Organize a field trip. This can be as simple as a long lunch out together or a more involved team-building outing like visiting a comedy club, volunteering together at a soup kitchen, or hiking a nature trail.
4. Encourage better nutrition. People feel better when they eat better. Provide fruit instead of doughnuts as a morning treat for employees or schedule a lunchtime potluck where people bring salads and other healthy options. Regular exercise is also a mood booster.
5. Encourage people to take some vacation days in the gloomiest
winter months.
We can't all live and work in the sunny, warm Bahamas. Many of us have ended up, by luck or by choice, in a less than temperate climate. That doesn't mean we have to spend three or four months each year suffering from SAD. Educate yourself and your employees about this disorder, and have a happy, healthy, productive winter.
