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(WebMD) -- For years, depression was seen as a woman's issue. And given that women visit psychiatrists and counsellors more often than men do, and that women seem to have an easier time expressing their emotions, it's understandable why mental health professionals were convinced that more women suffered from depression than men.

Yet men commit suicide four time more often than women do. More men than women abuse drugs and alcohol and initiate violence. Clearly, men aren't less likely than women to become depressed; they're just less likely to recognize and seek help for depression, and they have different ways of dealing with it.

How men are taught to cope with emotional pain

Generally, men are raised to be in control, independent, strong and rational. We are trained to see life as a constant battle for what we consider our just rewards -- a good job, a nice house and car, a fit body. Our machinelike mentality leaves little room for difficult emotions like confusion or sadness. It's considered unmanly to even admit these feelings, which we believe will slow us down or, even worse, break us down. Rise above your hurts and pains, we are told.

The physical cost of ignoring our mental health

Unfortunately, what happens to a lot of us in trying to "rise above" the pain is we turn to behaviours that numb the pain -- drugs, alcohol, affairs, gambling. These devices exact a toll on our bodies, bringing down our physical health with our mental health.

Depression affects our bodies. In a recent study of Johns Hopkins medical students, the depressed men were twice as likely as the non depressed men to develop coronary artery disease or have a sudden cardiac death. The increased risk lasted for up to 10 years after the onset of their depression.

Learning to deal with emotions

If you think you're depressed, you should seek professional help. Whether or not you seek treatment, there are things you can do right now to help yourself.

Description

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a mood disorder characterized by periods of depression that begin in the fall and subside in the spring. It results from the decrease in sunlight during the shorter days. The threshold of light-reduction that elicits depression varies among individuals.

The depressive episodes are usually mild to moderate but can be severe.

Risk

Thousands of Canadians experience SAD. Many more have a subclinical response - "winter blues"). Seventy-five percent to eighty percent of SAD sufferers are women who typically begin experiencing the disorder in their 30s. SAD has also been observed in children.

Seasonal affective disorder occurs more frequently in northern regions because of the shorter winter days.

Symptoms

The key factor in diagnosing SAD is is seasonal pattern: Symptoms fade with the arrival of spring and return in the the fall. Another characteristic of the illness is a craving for foods rich in carbohydrates.

Symptoms include lethargy or fatigue, weight gain, withdrawal from relationships, decreased sexual appetite, inability to concentrate or focus, irritability, anxiety and occasionally despair.

Women frequently report worsening of premenstrual symptoms.

Treatment

The primary treatment for SAD is light therapy. Other treatments, such as antidepressant medication, stress management, exercise and psychotherapy, may be useful as well.

Light therapy is exposure to intense levels of light under controlled conditions. The typical light therapy system consists of a set of fluorescent bulbs in a box with a diffusing screen. The box is placed on a table, and the person with SAD sits close to the light box, with lights on and eyes open. However, looking at the lights in not recommended; rather, people should engage in activities such as reading or eating meals.

Spending time outdoors during the day or rearranging the home and workplace to admit more sunlight may help alleviate mild symptoms.

Prevention

To lessen the symptoms of SAD:

For more information on this and other subjects go to Interventions Archive.  The EFAP assists you and your family resolve personal problems and maintain healthy and productive lives. 

Counselling Services Provided

To request more information or a counsellor, click on Request for Service.