| John Mitty Sunday, January 6, 2013 |
Port Jefferson, NY January 06, 2013
'Tis The Season.....For The Blues?
As the holidays draw to a close and schedules slow down, many individuals savor this time to relax, spend time indoors with family, or engage in outdoor winter activities. However, for some individuals, it feels like the winter will never end.
Seasonal affective disorder is a type of mood disorder that occurs in a cyclic pattern. In this geographic area, it is more likely to be a depressive pattern in the fall and winter months when hours of daylight are shorter and the temperatures are colder. Symptoms can include feeling sad most of the time, a sense of hopelessness, an increased need for sleep, an increased appetite with or without weight gain, and a lack of motivation. Seasonal affective disorder can be diagnosed during a routine psychiatric diagnostic interview.
Seasonal affective disorder is a treatable condition. Treatment options include behavioral lifestyle modifications, psychotherapy, antidepressant medications and light therapy. Light therapy is a treatment using a specialized light therapy lamp that simulates sunlight. The lamp is intended to be used for approximately a half hour daily, preferably in the morning, shining onto the eyes but not looking directly at the light.
Ideally, treatment begins in the fall, when the days begin to shorten and prior to when depressive symptoms usually begin. However, treatment can begin at any time that symptoms are occurring. If you think you might have seasonal affective disorder, obtain an evaluation from a professional who can appropriately diagnose and treat this condition.
Jennifer Serrentino MD
414 Main St.
Port Jefferson, N.Y. 11777
631-704-5348
http://www.jenniferserrentinomd.com/
 |
|
||||
The LIYellowPages.com - Your Local Yellow Page Resource - (631) 306-2000 - Email Us | About Us
Categories | Cities | Career Opportunities | Link To Us | Terms of Service | Privacy | Search | Site Map | Advertise
All rights reserved. Copyright © 2016 by Long Island Yellow Pages™ | Publication by Long Island Media, Inc.
