For Bat and Namey

Imagine snuggling up in front of the fire with a mug of hot chocolate. Or reading a good book in bed in the morning while the wind and rain do their worst outside. This is the pleasurable side of the winter experience but what if it goes on just too long and starts getting you down?
The worst scenario is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a mood disorder linked to the autumn and winter months, sometimes known as the "winter blues". It lifts naturally with the onset of spring and summer.
As in all forms of depression it's something to be taken seriously. The symptoms are low energy, weight gain, food cravings and an inclination to sleep more - the kind of things most of us experience from time to time, but when it persists and nothing will lift us out of it, it's wise to consult a professional.
While anti depressants can be effective in controlling depression there is an internationally well-researched treatment which is simple: increase the amount of light in your surroundings.
This may be as straightforward as opening the curtains and blinds, or trimming back trees that are blocking sunlight. You could even consider installing skylights in your dwelling. Dr Carolyn Doughty is based in Christchurch and conducts research on mood disorders.
She says that light treatment (phototherapy) has been shown in many studies around the world to be effective in alleviating the effects of SAD. The treatment involves sitting in front of the light box each day. Light levels need to be at least 2500 lux which is much higher than standard room lighting of 500 lux. Bright sunlight provides about 10,000 lux.
Until recently New Zealanders have had to buy lightboxes for this treatment overseas. But they are now being manufactured here. "When I learned of this treatment a few years ago I set about finding one in New Zealand and couldn't," says Dr Doughty. "So we made a prototype and started having them made by an engineer in Christchurch. But because of the demand now we're working with a new manufacturer and a lighting company.
We had to start another production run recently because the demand increased so much with the grey autumn weather." The treatment success rate is high. International research shows that typically 80 per cent of SAD sufferers respond dramatically.
The advantages are that it is non-invasive and benign. It's also fast acting with benefits typically noticed within four days, and side effects are rare: where they do occur they may be such things as a slight headache, nausea, sore eyes or a feeling of agitation.