| Many years ago, my wife and I were health care | | | | scientifically demonstrated to decrease and in |
| professionals working primarily with what was | | | | some cases eliminate the aforementioned SAD |
| then termed hyperactivity (or childhood | | | | symptoms. |
| hyperactivity). The terminology has changed over | | | | While this is a great boon to those actually |
| the years and the latest description of this | | | | suffering from SAD, what about the general |
| disorder (in both adults and children) is ADD/ADHD | | | | population? While the non-SAD population may not |
| or attention deficit disorder or attention deficit | | | | suffer the intensity of symptoms experienced by |
| hyperactive disorder. Like many professionals, we | | | | those with SAD, they, too, need adequate, |
| developed an interest in this disorder because we | | | | year-round sunlight to maintain optimum health |
| had children suffering from it (and we later found | | | | and to avoid some of the lesser manifestations of |
| out that we, too, were ADD/ADHD adults!). | | | | the SAD syndrome. Studies have shown that |
| During our research and education regarding this | | | | proper levels of sunlight (real or simulated) |
| disorder we also discovered that some | | | | increases the ability of the immune system to |
| researchers were also investigating a link between | | | | fight off disease, increases measured intelligence |
| ADD/ADHD and SAD or seasonal affective | | | | and even stimulates our energy levels to a higher |
| disorder. SAD is unfortunately one of those | | | | level. |
| conditions that is often dumped into a bag of | | | | Since these facts have been published with |
| "pseudo-disorders" including chronic fatigue | | | | governmental endorsement, why does the |
| syndrome and even PMS at one time. | | | | problem persist in many environments? In the |
| During the winter months, particularly in the | | | | workplace, there remain skeptics. These skeptics |
| northern climes, sunlight is often at a premium and | | | | are more interested in maintaining their opinions |
| this lack of enough natural sunlight is the culprit | | | | and beliefs than they are in seriously considering |
| that causes SAD and what some call the "winter | | | | the facts: "I've got my mind made up - don't |
| blues". I, personally, see no real differentiation | | | | confuse me with the facts". So, the place that |
| between the two except perhaps in the degree | | | | most of us spend the majority of our waking |
| to which sunlight deprivation affects an individual. | | | | hours, the workplace, continues to use antiquated |
| Fortunately, the NIH (National Institute of Health) | | | | (yet inexpensive) fluorescent lighting as its |
| formally recognized SAD as a bona-fide disorder | | | | primary method of illuminating the factory or the |
| in 1982. | | | | office. The consequent stress, fatigue and |
| The 40 million or so individuals who suffer from | | | | reduced morale and work productivity is written |
| the effects of sunlight deprivation have a | | | | off as the worker's inborn tendency to get away |
| biochemical deficiency in the production of a | | | | with less than they are capable of. |
| neurotransmitter called serotonin that is, in part, | | | | Upgrading to full spectrum fluorescent lighting is |
| produced by natural sunlight. SAD is not to be | | | | fairly expensive although the cost per unit has |
| taken lightly because it has a pervasive affect on | | | | been coming down over the past few years. The |
| nearly all areas of a person's ability to function on | | | | interesting thing is that companies that have |
| the job, in a relationship or just being "with" | | | | upgraded to full spectrum lighting have in many |
| themselves. The most pronounced symptoms are | | | | cases reported very positive results including |
| generalized and often severe feelings of sadness | | | | decreased absenteeism, higher levels of |
| and even depression. Without any logical basis for | | | | productivity and better work performance. |
| these feelings, these individuals often become | | | | If you are working in an office and have |
| anxious (experience anxiety) and wonder if they | | | | supplemental lighting in the form of a desk lamp, |
| are going crazy. Those living or working with a | | | | you can take matters into your own hands and |
| SAD individual will often notice irritability, excessive | | | | purchase full spectrum fluorescent bulbs yourself |
| eating and food cravings and a general loss of | | | | that have adapters that will fit into your desk |
| interest in social involvement. Oh yes, oversleeping | | | | lamp. Your investment is in your own health and |
| or the desire to "hibernate" is also a common | | | | well being and if the company also benefits, so |
| characteristic. | | | | much the better. |
| Fortunately there is a relatively simple and | | | | At home, get what is called a "light box" or any |
| inexpensive way to compensate and reverse the | | | | device that provides full spectrum light. Expose |
| symptom complex of SAD. The answer is | | | | yourself to the light on dismal winter mornings for |
| exposure to what is called full spectrum lighting. | | | | the amount of time suggested by the |
| Full spectrum lighting has been used for many | | | | manufacturer. Use the aforementioned fluorescent |
| years as a growth enhancer for indoor plants | | | | "bulbs" in place of the traditional incandescents in |
| being grown in parts of the world where there is | | | | your lamps. You will notice the difference. |
| a lack of sufficient sunshine all year. | | | | I'm not promoting any particular brand or specific |
| The full spectrum light fixture(s) in essence, trick | | | | product but I am "preaching" the benefits that |
| our light receptors and then our brain into | | | | both my wife and I have experienced by using full |
| experiencing the light as genuine sunlight. Sufficient | | | | spectrum lighting. |
| exposure to full spectrum light has been | | | | |