Today’s Albuquerque Journal ran a story on seasonal affective disorder (SAD)—depression caused by lack of sunshine. Although not a big problem in sunny climates, it is more common in areas with lots of cloudy days and long winters. The story interviewed physicians who mentioned light therapy as an option, but it took a backseat to drugs. Surprise!
What is really odd about the story is that practitioners contradicted their own statements. One psychologist said that patients have to address the physical sources of the disorder, and then went on to say they need a psychiatrist to “prescribe the right drugs.” A psychiatrist said that light therapy can be as effective as Prozac, but still said she would prescribe antidepressants for SAD!
It is insane to take medicine for a problem that is specifically caused by light deprivation, and thus can be helped with light. But one can’t blame the pharmaceutical bias solely on doctors. According to the article, “many patients opt for antidepressants without light therapy because the light therapy requires about an hour of patients’ time every day.” So if the typical patient can choose between sitting in front of a light every day (which really doesn’t require “an hour of time” because all you have to do is place it next to your desk while you’re working) or taking a drug, apparently they would prefer the drug even if it has side effects.
So the cycle perpetuates itself…doctors give us drugs and we take them without questioning whether there might be something else we can try first. When we actually have an opportunity to do something else, we don’t want to take it because it’s too much trouble, and it’s easier to just pop a pill.
Click here to read the article. (You might have to sign up for a free trial in order to read it; the Journal does not give automatic access to nonsubscribers.)
Our Corporate Website: Cutting Edge Catalog
Become a Facebook Fan
Share on Friendfeed
I so agree with you on this. I was going to also write “who wouldn’t?” but obviously there are many who do not. I lived in the NW for only a short time and I thought I was going to go bananas. It was Portland. It is not easy. There is a certain breed of folks who can handle it.
Who knows what makes some more able to cope. How those that cannot manage this problem is ultimately up to them. The more that we can encourage self-healing and healthy habits involving natural organic means the better. Education! You are right about the cycle.