Sabiam que hoje é o dia mais triste do ano?
Há até
estudos sobre isso. É o dia com um maior índice de suicídios, divórcios, de
venda de álcool. Enfim... Deixo-vos com o estudo
The first Monday after the holidays can be a depressing time for people coping
with a post-holiday letdown and a type of depression triggered by short days
called seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
And this year, First Monday will be especially blue, due to the added stress
of the brutal cold in the forecast, said Loyola University Medical Center
psychiatrist Dr. Angelos Halaris, who specializes in treating depression.
“All these factors will have a cumulative effect,” Halaris said. “We could
see an uptick in depression this coming week and for the rest of the month.”
For many people, the holidays are a time of too much eating and drinking,
combined with family stresses and relationship issues. They begin the new year
mentally and physically exhausted.
For people affected by seasonal affective disorder, energy and mood take a
nosedive during the short days of winter. “SAD is characterized by depression,
exhaustion and lack of interest in people and regular activities,” Halaris said.
“It interferes with a person’s outlook on life and ability to function
properly.”
Environmental stresses, such as brutally cold weather, can help trigger
depression in people who already are vulnerable due to SAD, post-holiday blues
or other factors, Halaris said.
SAD is thought to be related to a chemical imbalance in the brain, brought on
by lack of light due to winter’s shorter days and typically overcast skies.
“With less exposure to light in the winter months, many people become
depressed,” Halaris said. “Those susceptible to SAD are affected even more
so.”
Halaris said that bright light affects brain chemistry in a helpful way and
acts as an antidepressant. If you can stand the cold, get outside during the
day, even if it is overcast. At home, open the drapes and blinds to let in
natural light.
SAD can be effectively treated with light therapy, antidepressant medication
and/or psychotherapy, Halaris said. The latest treatment is a headband
containing mounted lights that delivers light to your retina whether you are
inside or outdoors.
In: http://www.newswise.com/articles/blue-monday-brutal-cold-short-days-post-holiday-letdown-raise-risk-of-depression
