By VANESSA McCRAY
TRAVERSE CITY -- A bright lamp shone from a windowside display at Thompson Pharmacy & Medical.
Outside, it was an overcast, sleety Traverse City day, one in a seemingly endless stretch of cold, dark days. The pharmacy sells about 150 special lamps that simulate bright sunlight each season to those wanting to ward off the winter blahs.
But some suffer from a disorder more serious than a case of cabin fever. For those with seasonal affective disorder, sitting under lights like these for as little as 20 minutes a day can help combat this type of depression, which sets in during fall and winter months.
"(It's) a shift, physically and emotionally, and I always, always like to say, 'Remember that there is science related to this,'" said Carol Murray of Lakeview Counseling in Traverse City. "The more that people understand why this is happening .., they feel some sense of relief."
She recommended use of SAD lamps and spending more time outside. Light therapy lamps can be so effective some insurance programs will help cover the cost. Thompson Pharmacy carries about 10 kinds of desk and floor lamps that range from $179 to $275. It will also rent out a lamp for $50 for two weeks. About 90 percent of renters end up keeping the device.
"The more I found out, the more I realized, 'There's something to it,'" said the pharmacy's Chad DeBolt.
The American Academy of Family Physicians estimates that as many as half a million people in the United States suffer from winter-onset depression and that another 10-20 percent may experience mild SAD. According to Mental Health America, women suffer from SAD three times more often then men, as do those in colder climates and people who work for extended periods without sunlight or work the night shift.
Local counselors reported they get busier during the winter months. Murray, who holds a master's degree in social work, said treatment requests start to increase in November.
"By February..., I can't tell you how many people have come in and said, 'I have cabin fever,'" said clinical therapist Kym Hansen, of Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services in Traverse City.
SAD symptoms can include increased fatigue, oversleeping, decreased socializing and change in appetite, like carbohydrate cravings, Hansen said.
"There's some evidence that living in northern Michigan can increase our chances of developing (SAD)," she said, because of the shorter number of daylight hours.
Former Wisconsin resident Sarah Browne would "turn into a slug" when winter began. She said the cold temperatures, heavy snow and fewer hours of sunlight would prevent her from leaving the house.
"I couldn't get out of bed, I wouldn't want to talk to anyone, I'd have crying spells. It was like my brain was wrapped in cotton batting," she said.
At first Browne attributed her malaise to the hassles of being a working mom and living amidst lots of snow, but her therapist spotted a pattern.
"She remembered an uncharacteristically springlike day a few days before and asked how I'd felt on that day. It had been an awesome day for me," said Browne, who now lives in California. "She kept running through days that were sunny; it was really a process of elimination."
The doctor's diagnosis: SAD
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Don't be SAD
In addition to spending time outdoors or under a special lights, treatments include exercise and sticking to a sleep pattern. Experts offered these suggestions:
-- Let There Be Light
The No. 1 therapy most doctors recommend for SAD is exposure to sunlight or full-spectrum light. Visiting a brightly lit garden store or a public atrium filed with light and live greenery can help, too. Some reported feeling better after spending a few minutes in a tanning booth.
-- Daily Dose of D
Another way to simulate the sun's benefits is to take a regular dose of Vitamin D. Our bodies produce Vitamin D when the sun's rays hit our skin; it's also found in dietary sources such as fish, eggs, fortified milk and cod liver oil.
-- Mix & Mingle
Dr. Janet Taylor, a mental health community expert on BeWell.com, noted the importance of social interaction.
"You might be inclined to be socially isolated, but interacting with people, friends and family can really help create a support network," she said.
If winter storms keep you in, check out social networking sites like Facebook to reconnect with old friends.
-- Be Good To Yourself
Sarah Browne called herself a "solar-powered person" and wears hot colors like yellows and oranges.
"The A No. 1 thing I've done is not to beat myself up and recognize that there are some things I can control and others I can't," she said.
-- The Associated Press
