As the winter creeps in, some will be feeling a drop in mood as daylight hours reduce.
Many can feel the 'winter blues' and seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression, recognised by the NHS. Since the clocks when backwards, the dark nights have become longer and more people are searching for SAD lamps.
According to the NHS, GP's can recommend the best treatment for you and it can include talking therapies, medication, lifestyle changes or even light therapy where a light is used to simulate exposure to sunlight.
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But what is the best way to tackle SAD and do SAD lamps actually work? Speaking to Edinburgh Live, Dr. Hana Patel, GP specialist in mental health, sleep and Mindset Coach explained why moods can change in winter.
Why do people get depressed in winter?
Dr. Hana Patel explained: "Our sleep cycle changes coming towards winter- and our sleep is affected by sleep. During the winter, when the daylight hours are less than summer, the brain is exposed to less light in the evenings and this means that our body makes more melatonin, [also known as the] 'sleep hormone', which affects us by making us feel tired and ready to go to bed.
"This in turns fits with the changing of seasons. With less sunlight, there is also less opportunity for the body to make vitamin D. Low levels of vitamin D are associated with immunity, tiredness, joint and muscle aches, a change in mood."
She added: Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) can also be apparent over the winter months, affecting our mood, can affect around 3 per cent of the population in UK."
Can seasonal affective disorder be treated?
"As GPs, we follow the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommendations on treatment and management of health conditions. for SAD, the advice is The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends that SAD should be treated in the same way as other types of depression.
"This includes using talking treatments such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or medicine such as antidepressants.
"Light therapy is also a popular treatment for SAD, although NICE says it's not clear whether it's effective.- so it's something that people may want to try, but the evidence and research does not say it will definitely help, so it is not something that GPs are able to prescribe currently, but some patients tell me how they do feel a difference using a SAD lamp and it is a personal preference that people need to explore, and read up about themselves, before deciding if this is something that they want to try."
Do SAD lamps work?
While Dr. Hana Patel stresses that the effectiveness is not clear, she does add that patients report that they do feel better.
Martin Seeley, Sleep Expert and CEO of MattressNextDay also said: "SAD is a common disorder and it cannot be fixed overnight, but there are a few things you can do to help get a better night's sleep, one of the main ones being purchasing a SAD lamp, or light box.
"SAD lamps work by emitting light, similar to sunlight, which can help trigger the brain to release serotonin which helps to boost your mood. Light therapy can be incredibly effective and many studies have shown that light therapy when daylight hours are reduced can help to adjust your circadian rhythm, the body's process for regulating your sleep-wake cycle, which essentially means you have a better, more rested sleep when you use a SAD lamp or light box."
He explained: "During the darker mornings, getting up can become increasingly more difficult, with the lack of light making it hard to wake up our internal body clock (circadian rhythm) and you may find that your brain wants you to wake up, but your body doesn’t. These SAD lamps essentially replicate sunlight, and are an effective way to add some light when it's dark outside, to help you stay motivated and boost your energy and mood.
"You're more likely to experience cognitive benefits such as improved concentration and memory when you wake up from light, rather than sound such as an alarm. Furthermore, it has been noted that increased light in your home helps to improve your overall well being, increase energy and productivity."
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