Vim & Vigor - Spring 2011 - North Mississippi - (Page 51)

If you are suffering from depression, whether it is seasonal or year-round, be sure to reach out for help. Someone is available 24 hours a day by calling the NMMC Behavioral Health Center at 662-377-3161 or 800-442-2238. Get Help Light therapy has also proved to be beneficial on those cold, gray days. This treatment involves sitting in front of a box that mimics outdoor lighting for about 30 minutes. Light boxes are available over the counter or by prescription; studies show the therapy causes a chemical change in the brain that elevates an individual’s mood. If you think you might suffer from SAD, the first step in treating the disorder is to see your doctor or a psychiatrist. “It will be up to you and your physician how you treat it,” he says. “Maybe try the light box first, and if that doesn’t help, there are several medications that can help.” Hill says not to fall victim to gadgets sold online that are said to treat SAD. “There are a lot of things out there that are totally ineffective. There has to be a certain amount of full spectrum light for it to work,” he says. Do Tanning Beds Treat SAD? Going to a tanning bed will not treat seasonal affective disorder. SAD is related to how much light the eyes, not the skin, absorb. “The only way a tanning bed would help is if you laid there with your eyes open, which no one should do,” says Paul Hill, M.D., a psychiatrist with North Mississippi Medical Center’s Behavioral Health Center. “That would cause major damage to your eyes and wouldn’t be an effective treatment anyway.” Don’t ever try to treat SAD alone. A doctor can make sure you get the appropriate treatment. call Vim & Vigor • SPRI NG 2011 51

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Spring 2011 - North Mississippi

Vim & Vigor - Spring 2011 - North Mississippi
Table of Contents
Opening Thoughts
Pump It Up
Heart of the Matter
Every Minute Counts
A Workout for Every Mood
Don’t Fail Your Heart
If Your Bones Could Talk
Healthy Travels
Over 40 and Fabulous
Do-It-Yourself Health?
Fighting Words
Balancing Act
Giving & Getting
Brighten Up
Welcome Aboard
Catch the Spirit

Vim & Vigor - Spring 2011 - North Mississippi