Time Change Sheds Some Light on Seasonal Affective Disorder

When people set their clocks forward this weekend for daylight saving time, more is at stake than that lost hour of sleep.

For the millions who suffer from seasonal affective disorder, the time change brings some relief from the depression of the winter months.

“In October, when the clocks are rolled back, people find it depressing because there is less daylight” in their waking day, said Suzanne Kline, an Anaheim psychologist who treats depression.

Conversely, when clocks spring forward an hour, there’s more sunlight at the end of the days, which were growing dark as early as 5 in the dead of winter.

“Sunlight has a direct correlation on a person’s health,” Kline said. “Springtime brings more hope to people, since they have more time to play outside, and because of the warmer weather. There are fewer people in therapy in the spring.”

Lois Bregman, a licensed clinical social worker in Irvine, agrees: “The human eyes need at least 20 minutes of unfiltered sunlight to maintain a balance in the body.”

According to a study, 60% to 90% of those who suffer from the disorder are women. People in northern latitudes and younger adults are also more susceptible.

It’s no coincidence that an estimated 20% of Alaska’s residents suffer from the disorder, compared with 3% elsewhere in the nation. Anchorage, the state’s largest city, usually receives an average of seven hours of daylight in December and in Barrow, the northernmost community in North America, the sun does not rise for two months.

By comparison, Southern California basks in almost 10 hours of sunlight in December. But even here, the disorder has its sufferers.

“In the winter, parents--especially mothers--are more concerned with their children because it gets dark earlier and they are more fearful of their safety,” said Kline. “Also, when women leave work, their fear and anxiety levels go up, because it is darker outside.”

Lisa Henderson, an accountant from Tustin, can relate.

“I just hate it when we have less light,” said Henderson, who works a 9 a.m.-to-6 p.m. shift. “I get depressed because after work it’s already dark. It feels like I lost the whole day.”

Dr. Penny Randall, an assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at UC Irvine, said that in addition to depression and anxiety, “symptoms usually include overeating and weight gain, fatigue, irritability and insomnia.” Sufferers can go to such extremes as attempting suicide, she said.

To be diagnosed with the disorder, the symptoms must begin to develop in late October, when daylight decreases, and disappear in early April, when sunlight increases.

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The best way to combat the disorder is to be exposed to more light.

“People can go out and purchase special full-spectrum light bulbs in health food stores and pet stores to offset light deprivation,” said Bregman.

Those who enjoy the outdoors also rejoice with the arrival of daylight saving time, initially started in 1918 to help factories save fuel during World War I.

“I love this time of the year, especially the ‘extra’ daylight,” said Jason Hobbs of Yorba Linda. “Sometimes I get out of work a little earlier, like around 4:30 p.m., and still manage to get some golf in before I head home.”

Jan Langley, another outdoors enthusiast, feels she has waited long enough for the “extra” hour of sun.

“I try to spend as much time as I can outdoors,” said Langley. “After work I can still get in a quick run. Everyone’s attitude seems to be more upbeat this time of the year and overall people are in a better mood.”

In fact, some experts believe this is true. They say that people generally are in better moods starting from about Valentine’s Day.

The thought of summer and the warmer weather approaching gives people more to look forward to.