Feeling blue? Find out why winter may be the culprit

Chicago may be known as a blues town, but this time of year the area sees a kind of blues no one sings about.

Seasonal Affective Disorder is a type of depression most often triggered by a lack of light or sunshine. When the days get short and gloomy clouds roll in, the "winter blues" becomes a problem for many people.

So the timing couldn't be better for a Rolling Meadows library seminar on Seasonal Affective Disorder, also known as SAD. "The season we're in and the fact that we live in Chicago area lends itself to this topic," says Mike Pollard, the licensed clinical social worker and Rolling Meadows resident who will lead the Tuesday discussion.

Pollard has 15 years of experience and runs a private practice in Palatine. Part of his presentation will focus on distinguishing between SAD, bipolar disorder, depression and other illnesses. "Mood disorders peak at various times of the year," he explains.

SAD was first identified in the 1980s. Since then, research has shown a much greater incidence among those living in Arctic regions where light is scarce. "The farther north you get, the more pronounced it gets," Pollard says.

SAD typically manifests itself in late fall and can go through May. The stress of the holidays also can magnify it. "Some people fall into a profound depression during these times, but when spring comes they start to get better," Pollard says.

One of the biggest indicators, Pollard says, is carb cravings -- the desire for comfort foods. The brain chemical serotonin, which is linked to happy feelings, is one of the few in which most of the receptors are found in the intestinal tract, he says.

Among the treatments he recommends are counseling, increasing activity and short-term antidepressants. UV light therapy also has proven helpful, he says, but not the tanning type of rays.

But even those who undergo treatment can suffer greatly. "Clearly if someone gets to the point where they're going to harm themselves they should go immediately to the emergency room," he says.

Pollard has lived in Rolling Meadows for five years with his wife, Mary Kaye, and their three children. An advocate of educating the public, he's eager to share what he knows. "This is a new venture for me. As a social worker it's what I like to do, to respond to the community's needs.

"If they show up and someone they know is struggling, they might say, "Hey, that explains my daughter's problem," or "That really sounds like me."

The seminar starts at 7 p.m. and will include time for questions. For more information, call the library at (847) 259-6050.