Don’t let short winter days make you SAD

  • Published
  • By Army Staff Sgt. Matthew Winstead
  • USARAK Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, is a condition believed to be brought on by several different elements, many of which are part of living in Alaska, such as prolonged periods of darkness, long cold winters and distance from family and friends.

It's more than just a case of the blues. Sometimes it lasts for months and it can have a negative effect on your professional performance and personal life.

Because it can be caused by environmental and climate-related factors, service members are often caught off guard by its effects, according to Air Force Maj. DavidWright, director of Physiological Health and Resiliency on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.

Sufferers may wonder why they're suddenly not enjoying previously enjoyable hobbies and experiencing unexplained fatigue.

"SAD is not considered a disorder in and of itself, rather it is considered a symptom of a larger condition that we will then treat," said Air Force Maj. David C. Wright, director of Physiological Health and Resiliency on JBER. "Some of the things we recommend as official treatment options include light therapy, where patients expose themselves to up to 30 minutes of diffused white fluorescent light every day, and we highly encourage our patients to maintain their routine even if they aren't feeling into it. Inconsistency tends to feed those negative feelings."

Service members who experience seasonal depression often use their decreased enjoyment of their hobbies as an excuse to stop partaking in them, according to Wright. This often results in even more negative feelings as service members stop activities that normally make them happy.

The basic idea is that if you continue to do what you like doing, it will help see you through.

Keeping in contact with friends and family back home can help combat the feelings of isolation that can come with SAD, according to Wright. Engaging in activities like sports and recreational events are also effective measures to fight the condition.

There are several resources available to servicemembers on JBER, most of which do not require involvement from the service member's chain of command, according to Wright.

"We understand that there may be some feelings of 'Will this hurt my career?' on the part of soldiers struggling with the idea of seeking help. The vast majority of our classes and preventative instruction does not involve notifying the chain of command of someone who comes to see us," Wright said.

The exceptions to that are if the person requests their leadership to be notified, or in cases in which there is evidence to suggest service members may harm themselves or others.

"In my opinion, asking for help is the way to go," Wright said. "For those worried it may harm their immediate evaluations, I would argue that it shows better leadership potential as it demonstrates that they know when to look for help and not get in over their heads."
If you suspect you have easonal affective disorder or seasonal depression, call Military and Family Life Consultants for informal meetings that do not go on record. Civilian counselors are on staff to assist service members and family members. The office, in Building 600 on the Richardson side, can be reached at 384-0405.

Help is also available at the Behavioral Health Clinic at 384-0405, or the Mental Health Clinic at 580-2181.