Winter sometimes brings SAD

Published 12:00 am Saturday, February 28, 2015

WINTER BLUES: Dr. Phil Scurria sits in his office Thursdsay at Merit Health River Region West Campus.

WINTER BLUES: Dr. Phil Scurria sits in his office Thursdsay at Merit Health River Region West Campus.

The weather has been less than uplifting this past week in Vicksburg. The rain and cold is enough to make one go a little stir crazy. But for those experiencing changes in their moods — more than just the winter blues getting them down —it could be seasonal affective disorder.

Often called, seasonal depression, SAD is a mood disorder that occurs each year at the same time. It usually starts in fall and ends in the spring.

The Cleveland Clinic website reports that approximately one half million people in the U.S. suffer from SAD.

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“If someone is diagnosed with depression, they may have a higher chance of suffering from SAD,” said Dr. Phil Scurria, a psychiatrist with the Merit Health River Region West Campus, in Vicksburg.

It is thought that SAD could be brought on from a lack of sunlight.

“You rarely see SAD in the south. It is more prevalent in the North and in Alaska where the days are shorter,” Scurria said.

Light therapy can be an effective treatment for SAD.

“Nerve endings that run behind your eyes to the back of the brain get stimulated by neurotransmitters,” Scurria said.

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that regulates mood, and if its levels drop depression may occur.

“Light boxes help,” he said, and they are available for sale over the counter or can also be prescribed by a doctor.

A light box mimics outdoor light, and they come in different shapes and sizes and brightness levels.

Light boxes are not regulated by the FDA, and the Mayo Clinic website suggest that it is important to understand their options.

Symptoms of SAD are similar to depression, Scurria said.

“A person may have trouble sleeping or they may sleep too much,” he said. Other symptoms include a feeling of worthlessness, the inability to concentrate or enjoy one’s self and thoughts of death — not killing themselves, but focusing on death.

“When people cry out of the blue,” Scurria said, may be another symptom.

In addition to getting more, light, some people may require antidepressants, he said.

Exercise is also a means to combat SAD.

“It is time to see a doctor when SAD impairs your ability to function as opposed to just feeling sad,” Scurria said.

About Terri Cowart Frazier

Terri Frazier was born in Cleveland. Shortly afterward, the family moved to Vicksburg. She is a part-time reporter at The Vicksburg Post and is the editor of the Vicksburg Living Magazine, which has been awarded First Place by the Mississippi Press Association. She has also been the recipient of a First Place award in the MPA’s Better Newspaper Contest’s editorial division for the “Best Feature Story.”

Terri graduated from Warren Central High School and Mississippi State University where she received a bachelor’s degree in communications with an emphasis in public relations.

Prior to coming to work at The Post a little more than 10 years ago, she did some freelancing at the Jackson Free Press. But for most of her life, she enjoyed being a full-time stay at home mom.

Terri is a member of the Crawford Street United Methodist Church. She is a lifetime member of the Vicksburg Junior Auxiliary and is a past member of the Sampler Antique Club and Town and Country Garden Club. She is married to Dr. Walter Frazier.

“From staying informed with local governmental issues to hearing the stories of its people, a hometown newspaper is vital to a community. I have felt privileged to be part of a dedicated team at The Post throughout my tenure and hope that with theirs and with local support, I will be able to continue to grow and hone in on my skills as I help share the stories in Vicksburg. When asked what I like most about my job, my answer is always ‘the people.’

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