SLEEP AND NARCOLEPSY

Why Do You Need Sleep?

Sleep is not merely a “time out” from our busy routines; it is essential for good health, mental and emotional functioning and safety. Even occasional sleeping problems can make daily life feel more stressful or cause

ASPERGER SYNDROME

About Asperger syndrome

Asperger syndrome is a form of autism, which is a lifelong disability that affects how a person makes sense of the world, processes information and relates to other people. Autism is often described as

10% BRAIN USE MYTH

"You know, you're only using 10 percent of your brain. Just imagine what you could accomplish if you used the other 90 percent!"
At one point in our lifetime we come through the above phrase or similar concerning our brain use in percentage. The only instances where there are unused r

44 THIEVES STUDY

This is how important motherly love is...John Bowlby believed that the relationship between the infant and its mother during

CAREERS IN PSYCHOLOGY FIELD

Most people tend to think that the career in psychology entails working with mental patients or in a hospital setting. In the field of psychology most careers are awesomely interesting and rewarding lets have a look at some of them.

Healthy Psychologist

Health psychologists are focused on helping people living healthier lives. They study how psychological,

POSITIVE SELF TALK

DO YOU HAVE POSITIVE SELF TALK???

A parable is told of a farmer who owned an old mule. The mule fell into the farmer’s well. The farmer heard the mule ‘braying’ or whatever mules do when they fall into wells.

After carefully assessing the situation the farmer sympathized with the mule, but decided that neither the mule nor the well was worth the trouble

Are you S.A.D?

What Is Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D)?

Have you ever noticed how a gray, rainy day makes you feel gloomy and tired, but a sunny day can leave you feeling cheerful and energized? Well, there's a scientific reason for this. Insufficient exposure to sunlight has been associated with low levels of melatonin and serotonin, carbohydrate craving, weight gain, and sleep disturbance.

Some of you may have also noticed that you find a seasonal fluctuation in your moods, feeling depressed only in the cold weather months. Take a look at your calendar and you'll soon see why. Each year on June 21 we experience the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. With our longest hours of sunlight in the middle of summer it's no wonder we're happier this time of year. After this date, however, the days progressively get shorter until the winter solstice on December 21, the shortest day. Is it any accident then that so many of us run for the hills when the holidays roll around? With our serotonin in such short supply, the added stresses of living up to our images of the picture-perfect holiday are just too much. The medical term for the season-long malaise that we fall into is seasonal affective disorder, or SAD.

Signs and Symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder

The symptoms of SAD occur cyclically with a return of symptoms each year during the winter months. These symptoms tend to be the atypical symptoms of depression, including:

• increased sleep;
• increased appetite and carbohydrate cravings;
• weight gain;
• irritability;
• interpersonal difficulties (especially rejection sensitivity), and
• a heavy, leaden feeling in the arms or legs.

Causes of Seasonal Affective Disorder

SAD is believed to be caused by a disturbance in the normal circadian rhythm of the body. Light entering through the eyes influences this rhythm. When it is dark, the pineal gland produces a substance called melatonin which is responsible for the drowsiness we feel each day after dusk. Light entering the eyes at dawn shuts off the production of melatonin. During the shorter days of winter, when people may rise before dawn or not leave their offices until after sunset, these normal rhythms may become disrupted, producing the symptoms of SAD.

There is also evidence linking SAD to a reduced amount of the neurotransmitter serotonin. Serotonin is the feel-good substance that is increased by antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). This decrease in serotonin production may be responsible for many of the symptoms of SAD, such as depression and carbohydrate cravings.

Treatment
Light therapy
Pharmacotherapy
Psychotherapy
NB: If you subscribe to the above symptoms seek medical help, don't diagnose and self medicate yourself.