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Change of seasons can bring on depression By FANNIE SUNSHINE The Champion Asseasons change, SO can peoples moods. In the next several weeks, somne individu- ais will start to sufer from a type of depression that follows a seasonal pattern, known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). This disorder usually begns in late autumnn and cao last until spring, said Psiya Rana, executive director of the Halton branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association. "SAD can be difficuit to diagnose, since many of the symptoms The Poug r ChiIdreri' S how Saturday, October 19, 2002 2:00 p.m. Graham Hall St. Paul's United Church, Milton Tickets $5.00 Tickets are available at the church office, 123 Main St. E. -Q- at the door or by calling (905) 878-8895 are similar to those of other types of depression or bipolar disorders," she explained. "Even physical condi- tions, such as thyroid problems, can look like depression. Generally, symptoms that reoccur for at least two consecutive winters, without any other explanation for the ~ changes in mood and behaviour, indicate the presence of SAD." Symptoms may include change in appetite, in particular a craving for sweet or starchy foods, weigbt gain, Prya Rafla decreased energy, fatigue, tendency to oversleep, difficulty concentrating, irritabîlity, avoidance of social situations and feelings of anxiety and despair, Ms Rana added. A miilder form of SAD, often referred to as the "winter blues," causes discomfort but isn't debiîitating, she continued. "People can really feel blue around Christmas or New Year's if they are recovering from a fanily disruption or poor fmnancial times. With the winter blues, people can feel down for a variety of reasons and can usually figure out wby tbey feel that way. They migbt need to get out more or migbt feel down because their fam- ily isn't around." Although a cause for SAD has yet to be identified, Ms Rana said ifs tbought to be related to a lack of exposure to light. "People with mild symptoms can benefit from spending more timne nutdoors during the day and by arranging their environments s0 that they receive maximum sunlight. Trim tree branches that block light and keep curtains open during the day and keep blinds open in your office. You can alto move fumiture so that you sit near a window. Installing skylights and addmng lamps can also help." Symptomns of SAD mnclude depression for long periods of time during autum.n and wmnter and change in sleep and appetite pat- tems, she said. SAD may affect some children and teenagers, but it tends to begin in people over the age of 20. The risk decreases witb age. The condition is more common in women than men. SAD is not something someone cao diagnose for hlm or herself, so its best to talk to your physician and find the reasons behind it. If you fmnd yourself thinking about suicide, you should seek professional belp." Ms Rana said a winter vacation to a warm, sunny destination can temporarily relieve SAD symptoms, altbough they usualîy reoccur after retuming home. Another way to relieve symptoms involves light tberapy, in wbicb a person sits beside a special fluorescent light box for sev- eral minutes a day, she continued, adding a bealtb care profes- sional sbouîd be consuîted before beginning this form of therapy. For people who are more severely affected by SAD, anti-depres- sant medications and counselling are other ways of effectively relieving symptoms. Ms Rana said. The Canadian Mental Health Association provides information about SAD and where and how to seek professional help, she con- tinued. "It can be confusing wben you dont know wbat it (SAD) is. We support and listen to the individuals who come in. We bave the special fluorescent lamp and we can arrange for people to use it. If someone is experiencing the symptoms of SAD, it should defi- nitely be explored because it can reaB.y start to negatively affect someones life." For more information regarding SAD, cail (905) 693-4270. Three cheers for Murray - the fattest dinner guest of al My family dinners are a strange event. I don't tink about it or notice it mucb until somebody is there wbo hasn't been before. invariably, they end up telling other people about the wacko dinner tbey had at the Townsends. Thete are special occasion din- ners that 'm talking about, sucb as Thanksgîving, Easter and Christmas. You have 15 or more people crowded into the bouse I grew up in, around a table in a tiny dining room witb barely enougb roomn to lift your fork to your moutb, altbough t've managed fine, thank you. I tbink it started about 20 years ago when tomebody, probably me, and for no particular reason, decid- ed we should cheer for the people who were our favourites. We'd go around the table one at a time and whoever got the loudest cheer would be the winner. That was fine, except that my father didn't cheer when it was my mom's tum, and she didn't talk to him for two days. That was it, a tra- dition was born. The dinner starts out normally, with small talk around the table. IJtuaIIy, as that point, I'm too busy eating to pay much attention, except for the year that one of my brothers decided that he would toast just about everyone and everything in sigbt. When he decided so toast the pommtes 1 losi it and food spit out of my mouth. 1 had to take a break for a minute or two until 1 stopped laughing. Toward the end of the meal peo- ple start telling their stories. Mostly, tbey're real-life funny sto- ries, but t usually just make mine Up. 1 often tell the same one, about the miraculous three-legged Easter Pig orMTanksgiving Pig, or what- ever occasion it is. lt's a long story, but the punch-line is: A great pig hike that, you cant eat it aIl at once. If you tell a good story and it's new, unlike mine, or if you report doing something special you tome- tîmes get your name chanted. tnvariably, it degenerates into cheermng for favourites. By the time this happens. people are making side deals across the table - you cheer for me and l'Il cheer for you, type of thing. When the cheering starts, people are banging the table, hammering their tork on their plate, whisthing. and screammig. When it comes to my turn, the tradition is that nobody makes a- peep. At leasi I, hope it't tradition. I did get tome cheers last Christmas, though, when we had those cracker things that you pull apart. Inside is a littie priz.e and a paper hat. Somebody decided that wbatever colour bat you bad would be your team. Ail tbrougb dinner people were trying to trade their bats to manipulate their chances of winning the vote. There are different votes, not just for favourites, but the only time I ever won was wben tbey cbeered for wbicb person tbey tbougbt was the fattest. This Tbanksgiving I tbougbt 1 may bave bad a chance to win a legitimate vote. 1 announced that we were going to be cbeering for the funniest person. One of mny brothers watn't there - the one wbo toasts potatocs, gravy and cranbenry sauce - and I bad a new ttory, to t was ready. It was a disaster. Notbing was working. When somebody was talking about how tbey bad been in Arizona, there were a ton of snakes, and how if tbey lived there tbey'd want to have roadrunners because they'1l kil the tnakes and eat them. "Oh," 1 said, "Maybe you could put up a sigo that said: Roadrunners Welcome." 1 thought that was pretty funny because roadrunners can't read, but not even a giggle. even after I explained the joke. 1 . qre'L.Lonpagem- D ON SALE NOW Tickets availoble ut Copps Coliseum Box office, cil Ticketmaster locations, on-line ut www.ticketmuster.!ý-0 or charge by phone 1 905-527-7666 1