Melissa Murphy

“All I wanted to do was hibernate in bed”

Seasonal affective disorder made Hollyoaks actress Roxanne McKee feel so low she didn’t want to get out of bed.

Feature: Melissa Murphy

When Hollyoaks actress Roxanne McKee walked the red carpet at this year’s National TV Awards no-one would have guessed her secret infliction. But she was struggling to deal with seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a condition which affects millions of people every winter.

Iain Ryrie, programme director of research at the Mental Health Foundation, explains: “The dark mornings and shorter days during the winter months leave many feeling depressed and they also become less active, stay indoors and eat more comfort food.” 

Roxanne says: “I started to feel very low all of a sudden this October. I’m normally a happy and bubbly person. I wasn’t depressed by anything in particular and there was nothing going wrong in my life, but I just wanted to sleep. I had no energy and felt very down and lethargic.”

Experts estimate that millions of people could be suffering from SAD without realising. Dr Jan Wise, consultant psychiatrist and expert in SAD, believes it’s vital that sufferers recognise the symptoms. “Two in five people will suffer from depression at some point in their lives. If you notice symptoms such as lack of energy, trouble sleeping and a general low feeling for prolonged periods, then this is a very real sign of SAD.”

Another classic symptom is a change in appetite. Sufferers often overeat and crave sweet foods or carbohydrates. Roxanne discovered that her appetite changed. “I really went off my food,” she says. “I had strong cravings for sweet porridge with honey - it was all I wanted to eat!”

Her concentration was also affected. “I was struggling to learn my lines,” she says. “My social life started to disappear because I didn’t have the energy to go out, but I didn’t feel recharged by staying in.”

SAD causes sleep problems, too. Experts believe this is due to low levels of light causing an overproduction of melatonin, the body’s natural sedative. “When I did get into bed, I found it hard to sleep,” says Roxanne. “My body didn’t want to be doing anything, but it’s a physical tiredness, not a mental one. It’s very strange.”

Roxanne was lucky that one of her colleagues had suffered from SAD and recognised her symptoms. “She recommended light therapy. So I now sit in front of a light box regularly or whenever I’m feeling low.”

Light therapy is currently the most effective treatment for SAD. It delivers light at a wavelength that suppresses melatonin and restores the chemical imbalance in our bodies. Dr Jan Wise says it offers a number of benefits: “It’s an important and clinically proven treatment for seasonal depression. It’s non-invasive, non-chemical and enables anyone with SAD to control the symptoms naturally and effectively.”

But there’s no replacement for real sunshine. Last year, Daniel Bedingfield found he couldn’t cope with British winters. He felt so low that he once “cried all night.” He was shortly diagnosed with SAD and now spends winters in his native New Zealand. “I lack certain substances in my body, so I get depressed when there’s little or no light,” he says.

Of course, jetting abroad for the winter isn’t practical for most people. “I can’t do that with my work commitments,” says Roxanne. “But it’s really important to see the sun in the winter, so I make sure I get outside every day and see daylight, even if it’s cold.”

Iain Ryrie agrees: “It is important that we practice a healthy lifestyle at this time of year.  Good nutrition, exercise, exposure to natural light and plenty of rest all help to protect against seasonal depression.

Roxanne believes that being aware of her symptoms is the first step to curing them. “When I crave sweets, I know why and I can deal with it by using a light box. My advice to anyone feeling low this winter is to get out, see friends and do things that make you smile or laugh.”

SAD explained

What is SAD?

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a form of depression normally experienced between October and April. It’s thought to be caused by inadequate levels of bright light during the winter months.

Who suffers from it?

One in 50 people in the UK are affected each year with SAD. A less severe form, known as the ‘winter blues’ affects one in eight of us. SAD is four times more common in women than men and normally starts between the ages of 18 – 30. It is extremely rare in those living within 30 degrees of the equator, where daylight hours are long and very bright.

What are the symptoms?

• Low energy, fatigue
• Feeling depressed and weepy
• Excessive sleepiness
• Heaviness in arms and legs
• Loss of enjoyment in pleasurable activities
• Social withdrawal
• Overeating
• Cravings for carbohydrates and sweet foods
• Loss of concentration and motivation
• Anxiety
• Loss of sex drive

How can it be treated?

Light therapy is effective in up to 85 per cent of diagnosed cases. SAD can also be treated with anti-depressants or St John’s Wort, but these shouldn’t be combined with light therapy without asking your GP first. Symptoms should disappear in the spring when the days get brighter.

Where to get help?

• For factsheets and self-help tips on SAD, visit the Mental Health Foundation website at www.mentalhealth.org.uk or call 020 7803 1100.

• For light box supplies and information, visit www.litebook.info or call 08700 433 842.

• St John’s Wort is available at Boots stores nationwide, £16.85 for 50 tablets. Visit www.boots.com