Do the rainy days make you feel SAD?

Some people find rain romantic.  They think rain is a big reason to stay indoors  and is conducive to cuddling up and having a big moment with your special someone. A friend tells me that rain stirs her inner chef fantasy and makes her want to cook delicious comfort meals to the delight of her family.   Another friend tells me that she uses rain as an excuse to stay home and rest, catch up with her DVD collection, and bond with her kids. 

A day or two of rain is fine with me, and yes, I could use the time to stay home and catch up on paper work, books waiting to be read, and a whole stack of DVDs to watch.  Now, I know why Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway were nominated for their excellent performance in Les Miserables.

But I find endless days of torrential rains, flooded streets, thunder, lightning, and bad news all around the metropolis depressing. 

When I was living in New York City, I came back to Manila during the harsh winter months and stayed on till the middle of March.  Cold weather, lack of sunshine, dark skies, short days and long nights, and everything depicting the winter season depressed me.  A doctor friend told me that I was not alone in this.  There is a condition called SAD — Seasonal Affective Disorder — and I had that condition.  During winter months, I was not my usual bubbly self.  I woke up depressed, depleted of energy, and had a difficult time starting my day.   The doctor enumerated some of the symptoms of SAD and I must admit I had some of them. Those afflicted with SAD may:  1. feel sad, grumpy, moody or anxious, 2. lose interest In their  usual activities, 3. eat more and crave carbohydrates such as pasta, arroz caldao, guinatan, champorado, suman, etc., 4. gain weight, 5. sleep more and feel drowsy during daytime .

Symptoms come and go and in extreme cases, some experience them at the start of the fall season (September) till the beginning of spring (mid April).

I only experienced SAD during the height of the winter months like January and February, and my solution was to come back to the Philippines and enjoy the great weather here.  Even if December was already winter, the Christmas holiday atmosphere brightened my spirits.  But come January, I noticed a complete change in my mood. 

How is SAD treated?

Doctors often prescribe light therapy to treat SAD.  There are two types of light therapy:  Bright light treatment and dawn stimulation.  For bright light treatment, you sit in front of a “ light box” for half an hour or longer usually in the morning.  For dawn stimulation, a dim light goes on in the morning while you sleep and it gets brighter over time like sunrise.  Light therapy could work well for people with SAD, but one has to do it every day until the season changes.  Otherwise, your depression could come back.

Other treatments may include: antidepressants to improve the balance of the brain chemicals that affect mood; counseling, such as cognitive behavior therapy, to help you learn more about SAD and improve your condition; regular exercise to boost the production of serotonin, the happy hormones

I did not need to go through any of these treatments as I escaped the winter months and came to Manila.  During the tail end of winter, like March and April, when I was back in NYC, I would feel a slight onset of SAD, but not for long as spring weather was just around the corner and there were some sunshiny days.  

Are you feeling SAD because of the rains?

Colds, flu, and pneumonia are rampant this season so it’s best to take precautions.  Double up on Vitamin C and plenty of fruits and vegetables to boost your immune system.  It’s very important is to drink clean water to avoid diarrhea and typhoid.  If you are unsure of the source, boil your drinking water first. Avoid walking in floodwaters and if you do, wash the exposed skin immediately and disinfect with alcohol to avoid being afflicted with Leptospirosis, a bacterial disease caused by direct contact with the urine of infected animals or with urine-contaminated environment.  Wash your hands frequently to prevent the spread of diseases.  According to the DOH, dengue is rampant during this season so avoid mosquito-infested waters, and dirty surroundings.  Spray mosquito repellent on skin to prevent mosquito bites and wear long sleeves and pants when going outdoors. Mosquito patches and citronella sprays are helpful, too.  Many relatives of  friends were down with dengue recently so we should all take extra measures against this dreaded disease.

There are still rainy days ahead of us, hopefully not as catastrophic as Ondoy and Maring, so let us all take care of our health. 

— Sources: Healthwise; Health and Lifestyle