Abraham Lincoln had it. Winston Churchill suffered from it. Even fantasy writer Barbra Hambly went years undiagnosed.

As the winter months draw near, the days grow shorter, meaning an overcast sky, almost non-existent sun and ongoing rainy Seattle days.

Feelings of lethargy, increased appetite, irritability, loss of concentration, anxiety, oversleeping and a lack of interest in normal activities isn't just a coincidence of the darker months, but could actually be symptoms of what is known as winter depression, or Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

Winter depression, also known as the winter blues, is a common experience among 20 to 30 percent of people living in latitudes similar to Seattle's.

The American Psychiatric Association recognizes SAD as a subtype of a major depressive episode. SAD occurs because of a decrease of serotonin due to shortening of daylight hours and lack of sunlight in the winter. Winter blues is also connected to abnormal patterns of melatonin secretions.

According to the SAD Association, sufferers are most commonly alleviated of their blues through light treatments, anti-depressants or cognitive behavior therapy.

Thirty minutes a day in front of a light box that produces more than 10,000 lux at 2 feet away is the most optimal treatment for SAD.

"Light therapy influences the biological clocks that affect chemical production in the brain, specifically melatonin," said Maurice Warner, associate director of the UW Counseling Center. "Without adequate light, circadian rhythms get off-kilter and essentially light therapy resets that clock."

Although daily light treatments can benefit the lives of SAD sufferers, Warner added that light in nature can be better than a mechanical device.

"Walking 30 minutes back and forth from school-there is no need for light therapy," Warner said.

Free and unlimited light therapy sessions can be scheduled by appointment through the Counseling Center at Schmitz Hall and at Hall Health on campus.

In addition to light therapy, there are three all-natural remedies for the blues developed by Marie-Annette Brown, UW professor and author of When your Body Gets the Blues.

Originally developed for women with mild depression, these simple everyday solutions can lessen the side effects of SAD. According to Brown's LEVITY Program, mood, energy and appetite can be improved just by "walking outdoors at a brisk pace for 20 minutes, five or more days a week; getting more very bright light during the daytime but less light at night and taking the following six vitamins and minerals on a daily basis: 50 mgs. each of vitamins B-1, B-2, B-6, 400 mcg. folic acid, 400 IU of vitamin D and 200 mcg. selenium."

Whether it's the average Seattleite or a political leader, anyone can feel a little SAD once in awhile. Treatment is available to lighten those winter blues, since Seattle's rainy days are most likely here to stay.

[Reach reporter Haley Herr at news@thedaily.washington.edu.]