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TED-Ed

How does light therapy help treat seasonal depression? - Kelly Rohan

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As winter approaches, shorter days spark a cascade of changes within the brains of animals. As a result, groundhogs retreat to their burrows for hibernation, weasels’ coats turn from brown to white, and birds cease their singing. And scientists are finding that seasonal behavioral changes similarly happen for some humans. Kelly Rohan digs into what we know about seasonal affective disorder.

Additional Resources for you to Explore

As far as non pharmacological treatments go, bright light therapy shows the most promise for combatting the symptoms of SAD, or Seasonal Affective Disorder. Although the disorder technically applies to any cyclical depression that occurs at the same time each year, most cases of the disorder are linked to the colder months, making it almost colloquially synonymous with Winter Depression. Usually, the symptoms discussed in the video dissipate with the arrival of spring.

For more on the source of the body's circadian rhythms, which help our body tell day from night, read on here and here. For more explanation on melatonin, including its use in over the counter sleep aids, explore this article from Northwest Integrative Medicine or this study on sleep-wake regulation.

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Meet The Creators

Educator
Kelly Rohan
Director
Avi Ofer
Narrator
Bethany Cutmore-Scott
Composer
Cem Misirlioglu
Sound Designer
Cem Misirlioglu
Director of Production
Gerta Xhelo
Produced by
Sazia Afrin
Editorial Director
Alex Rosenthal
Editorial Producer
Shannon Odell
Script Editor
Anna Rothschild
Fact-Checker
Charles Wallace

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