From November 2009 to February 2010, I recurrently practiced a reverse treatment of Seasonal Affective Disorder, in hopes to experience the "Winter Blues". For example, since one of the symptoms of SAD can be difficulty awakening in the morning, some find it helpful to have the light turn on just before they are supposed to wake up. I, on the other hand, left the blinds closed and the lights off. Long term treatment compliance is often more difficult than one might initially anticipate.In other words, considering my full-hearted, unambiguous commitment to experience the 'winter blues', I just could not get depressed enough! This is an important reason to have a professional monitoring.
I documented these months visually, most importantly to see how (if at all) my work had changed.
Below you will find the Epidemiology of SAD:
About 70-80% of those with SAD are women. The most common age of onset is in one's thirties, but cases of childhood SAD have been reported and successfully treated. For every individual with full blown SAD, there are many more with milder "Winter Blues." The incidence of SAD increases with increasing latitude up to a point, but does not continue increasing all the way to the poles. There seems to be interplay between an individual's innate vulnerability and her degree of light exposure. For instance, one person might feel fine all year in Maryland but develop SAD when she moves to Toronto. Another individual may be symptomatic in Baltimore, but have few symptoms in Miami. Some individuals who work long hours inside office buildings with few windows may experience symptoms all year round. Some very sensitive individuals may note changes in mood during long stretches of cloudy weather.