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 Seasonal depression affects millions of people each year, generally around the winter months. It is sometimes referred to as cabin fever but it is a real disorder that can cause many unwanted changes for an individual. They may be moodier, have less motivation, get sick more often, not focus on their goals, and do poorly at work. More severe cases involve the person withdrawing from others, not eating, and having trouble sleeping.
Winter depression can affect people of all ages, including young children. It is believed that approximately 6% of the population suffers from winter depression in one for or another. Women seem to suffer from it more often than men. Recent studies show that individuals who live in high altitude areas where the weather changes from one extreme to the other suffer worse symptoms. The main factor causing winter depression is a lack of sunlight. As a person starts to get less exposure to sunlight throughout the day, they body produces less serotonin. Studies show that as such individuals are exposed to more sunlight, they feel better and the body starts producing normal levels of serotonin again. Many doctors encourage individuals with winter depression to expose themselves to more sunlight. It isn’t always possible to do this so a good alternative is to use light boxes. Tanning beds expose the individual to UV rays similar to those found in nature sunlight. This may be a good alternative for someone who can’t get enough natural sunlight to keep winter depression at bay. The UV rays of tanning beds are actually much stronger than natural sunlight. It is recommended that individuals get at least 30 minutes of natural sunlight everyday. Therefore the maximum time for a tanning bed daily shouldn’t exceed 10 or 15 minutes. Since tanning beds can cause health concerns many doctors recommend only 5 to 7 minutes in a tanning bed each day. Some studies conducted with individuals suffering from winter depression found that using a tanning bed a few minutes each day resulted in significant changes in only three or four days. For individuals with severe winter depression, it can take up to one week of exposure in a tanning bed to see results. Many people in these studies felt their mood improve after a single tanning bed session. It is important to wear proper eye protection while using a tanning bed. Some people who suffer from winter depression are tempted to tan without wearing anything on their eyes. While they may not feel any effects immediately, this can result in severe damage to the cornea and retina. It can even result in cataracts appearing that will result in blindness if not treated. Just as you shouldn’t look directly into the UV rays of natural sunlight, you need to avoid the UV rays of tanning beds. Remember that they are approximately three times more powerful than those from natural sunlight. If you or someone you know has the symptoms of winter depression, you should talk with your doctor. In some cases the symptoms actually have to do with other medical conditions or mental health disorders. You may require medication, counseling, or a combination of ongoing treatments. However, if you find yourself in a cycle each winter of feeling irritable and longing for the sunny days ahead, consider scheduling a few tanning sessions as an experiment. If you find that you benefit from them, you may be suffering from a mild case of winter depression. Some people argue that tanning beds aren’t good for your health but suffering from the effects of winter depression isn’t good either. This is one situation where you will have to weight the benefits of using a tanning bed against the struggles associated with winter depression. You also have to take the health risks associated with using tanning beds into consideration before you make a decision.
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